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While Charles qualified for weight loss surgery, he declined the offer, claiming he didn't want to move to Houston and leave his family.

TLC's My 600-lb Life highlights the weight loss attempts of severely obese individuals across the country as they work with esteemed bariatric surgeon Dr. Now.

The individuals the show features all have one thing in common: They're addicted to food and the feeling it gives them.

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During the Season 12 finale, we meet Charles Bridgeman from Everett, Wash., who knows all about grappling with a life-threatening addiction. While food was always a comfort for him, he was addicted to meth for a decade. His addiction prompted his mom and grandma to kick him out, leaving him homeless for quite some time and even resulting in him getting arrested.

Fortunately, Charles went to rehab and got clean a few years back. But this shining achievement was eclipsed by the fact that he seemed to have replaced drugs with food.

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When we meet Charles, who is in his early 30s, he is living with his brother, Brad, and sister, Cheyana. Brad's full-time job has become taking care of Charles, who cannot make himself food and can only walk a few steps at a time before needing to rest.

Charles's journey on My 600-lb Life was an interesting one. He and Dr. Now butted heads several times and Charles often didn't follow Dr. Now's directions. Usually, when this happens on the show, the individual ends up gaining weight and getting farther away from their goal.

However, Charles did lose weight, and Dr. Now did end up approving him for weight loss surgery. But Charles had seemingly gotten so comfortable at home with Brad, who kept him on track, that he declined the offer. He said didn't want to move to Houston for the surgery and leave his family, even if it was only temporary.

At the end of the episode, Charles said he wanted to continue his weight loss efforts in Everett and possibly reconsider surgery in the future. That said, where is Charles now? Did he ever get bariatric surgery, and was he able to continue losing weight on his own?

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Charles and his brother Brad in Dr. Now's office in Houston, Texas

Since his time on My 600-lb Life, Charles appears to be doing very well. According to his Facebook profile, he is still living in Everett, Wash., and has continued to lose weight.

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Charles has been spending time with his dogs and recently took them to the dog park, illustrating that he's still making an effort to go outside and do more activities.

However, the biggest update is Charles's current weight. At the beginning of his episode, he was believed to be over 700 pounds. After adopting Dr. Now's diet plan and developing an exercise routine, he was down to 604 pounds by the end of the episode, losing well over 100 pounds on his journey.

That being said, in September 2023, Charles revealed some exciting news: "Omg down to 385," he wrote on Facebook.

It's unclear if this substantial weight loss was strictly from dieting or if Charles did get bariatric surgery, which would likely expedite his weight loss. However, we are glad to hear that Charles hasn't given up and is continuing to lose weight.

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Where Is Charles Bridgeman From 'My 600-lb Life' Now? He's Lost a Significant Amount of Weight - Distractify

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Season 9 of the CNN podcastChasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Guptaexplores the intersection between body weight and health. We delve into a wide range of topics, including the evolutionary reasons behind why losing weight is so hard and how to talk to kids about weight. You can listen here.

(CNN) The internet and social media are rifewith marketing ploys: Its hard to surf the Web or scroll through platforms such as Instagram, Facebook or TikTok without having a slew of ads pop up left, right and center about exactly what you were just viewing. The cookies and algorithms (and other tricks of the trade) follow online users everywhere.

The bombardment seems particularly merciless if you are searching for lose weight or eat healthy or watching any adjacent reel, story or video. Advertisers and influencers are eager to get your eyeballs on a product, protocol or procedure. Sometimes whats promised seems like it could, maybe, work but how can you really tell if its legit? Whose advice should you follow?

Enter Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, who has made it his mission to debunk medical misinformation and educate people. Better known as Dr. Mike, he is a practicing family medicine physician in Chatham, New Jersey, who shares his expertise with millions of YouTube and social media followers. These so-called snake oil sellers and their dubious miracle cures are not new, he said; he calls them I Know All experts, a term he coined in a 2017 TED Talk.

I think its not a new phenomenon. Ponce de Lenwas searching for the fountain of youth many years ago, and yet were still doing that to this day, Dr. Mike recently told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the podcast Chasing Life. I just think that the strategies have changed because we have this new added tool of social media that traditionally doctors, who are evidence-based, have shied away from.

Dr. Mike said the I Know All experts and their too-good-to-be-true products flourish in the gray zone where science does not yet have clear answers and social media and the internet amplify their voices.

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It allowed a prime opportunity for these IKA experts to come in and claim that they have all the answers. And thats really just a form of trust hacking through mass confidence, as if they know whats going on with you, he said.

(Thats) in dark contrast to what a physician is trained to do: We come in and we dont claim to know the exact diagnosis. We create one diagnosis along with a differential of other options. It could be, when we recommend the treatment, we hedge and say it works X percentage of the time. But these IKA experts trust-hack and say, I know whats wrong with you. I know this is going to work for you. Take my miracle potion. And that sells very, very well.

To listen to more of Dr. Mikes conversation and learn why certain seemingly cant hurt, might help approaches to weight loss such as tummy teas, fad diets and colon cleanses could actually be dangerous, click on the player below.

With so much misinformation floating around the internet and social media especially around the topic of weight loss what can you do to make sure youre not going down an ill-advised rabbit hole? Dr. Mike has these five tips.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Dont trust 99% of things you see on social media; be a healthy skeptic. Thats how l like to say it, said Dr. Mike, noting that there are many sources of information both governmental, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions FoodSafety.gov, and academic, such as the site run by Harvard Medical School that are trustworthy. (Those websites usually end in .gov, .edu and .org.)

There was a funny commercial I forgot what it was for; I believe insurance and there was a woman going on a date with a gentleman, and he completely lied on his profile. And he was, like, Always trust what you see on the internet. And thats a lot (of) how I feel about supplements online and people talking about supplements online: That if it feels too good to be true, allow that inner skeptic in you to further test it, either by doing some more in-depth research on your own if youre comfortable, or bringing it up at your next visit with your primary care doctor.

Speaking of primary care physicians, prioritize building a relationship with a good medical professional.

Thats the biggest tip I would give: to create a long-lasting relationship with a primary care doctor, said Dr. Mike, adding that he sees people in their 20s and 30s using urgent care as their primary care source.

Thats not what urgent care is meant to be, he said. Its not going to give you good outcomes. Youre not going to form a good relationship. Youre not going to get the benefits of having a longitudinal relationship with a single provider. So, those are important.

Dr. Mike said such a relationship is especially important when it comes to weight loss, because how in the world can you help someone sustain weight loss if theres no continuity of care? Its, by definition, mandatory for it.

When it comes to weight and weight loss, there are many important factors involved, so dont fall into the trap of obsessing over one, whether that be the one right diet, the one perfect food or the one must-take supplement.

Zoom out of just thinking about, What I can take or what I can eat? and understand that theres a lot of other things that impact your weight, Dr. Mike said.

So, getting seven to nine hours of sleep as an adult, during the same hours of the night, consistently is going to be important for good weight control. Getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity is going to be important.

Dr. Mike also suggests making small adjustments to your daily habits: Skip the elevator and use the stairs instead, and for short distances, leave the car in the garage and do errands on foot. These things are going to add up and actually lead you to have better control of your weight, he said.

When it comes to weight, dont underestimate the role of your mental health.

(Make) sure that you get help when it comes to mental health issues and concerns, Dr. Mike said. Because if youre not in a good mental health place, its very easy to have food become almost a self-treatment for either unhappiness or anxiety. And those conditions both depression and generalized anxiety disorder are treatable conditions, by either getting therapy, perhaps some medication if thats warranted in your condition.

And you might not even connect weight and mental health but it plays an incredibly potent role in helping you not just get to a healthy weight but stay and maintain a healthy weight.

Understand some basic principles about the food you consume, so you dont, for example, vilify or lionize a single food or ingredient.

For example, Dr. Mike said he recently had a guest on his podcast who tried to equate a chocolate kiss to a grape.

We have to put that in perspective. While you may compare them based on their sugar content, thats one way to categorize them, Dr. Mike said. But then if you compare them to how many nutrients that are valuable to us like vitamins, fiber, etc. in grapes versus chocolate, the grapes are clearly healthier.

So avoid trying to oversimplify nutrition with these hard-and-fast rules, and instead just try and give yourself a general understanding of how foods work. Because when youre not as strict and youre not as hard-and-fast in your thinking about food, you actually create a healthier, long-lasting relationship with food that will give you better outcomes in maintaining a healthy weight.

We hope these five tips help you think more clearly about food, weight and what you see or hear about them on the internet. Listen to the full episodehere. And join us next week on theChasing Life podcast when we explore how different diets (keto vs. low fat vs. vegan) and the timing of when we eat can affect our weight and health.

CNN Audios Jennifer Lai contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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'Lose weight quick' online schemes don't work. Dr. Mike offers these 5 tips instead - Yahoo News UK

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Rebel Wilson is opening up about the way people started treating her following her weight loss.

In an exclusive interview with People and ahead of the release of her tell-all memoir Rebel Rising, the actress discussed the beginning of her "year of health" during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, she says she slowly lost weight in order to "drastically change" and eventually harvest her eggs.

(Wilson welcomed a baby girl on Nov. 7, 2022, via surrogate.)

I was getting quite a lot of attention for the weight loss, she told the publication. I thought: Gosh, people are so intrigued by this. Literally, I got more attention for weight loss than any movie I'd ever done.

The Pitch Perfect star went on to say that while she knows "that's superficial," it "was nice" to receive the attention.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"I went, Oh, is this what hot people experience all the time? Their life must be so bloody blessed, she went on to add, noting that people would hold the door for her and pay her more attention as a result of her smaller size.

While it was hurtful to realize how little people cared while she was larger, Wilson admitted that the added attention was "such positive reinforcement" that ended up motivating her to continue maintaining her healthy routine.

It was interesting to know exactly what it's like to be invisible sexually and then to be visible, she added. "I've experienced both sides of the coin.

In the age of fad diets and Ozempic, the comedian added that it's common for people to "think that there's some magic pill, or some sick special diet, or exercise regime or whatever" that will magically help a person lose weight or get healthy. (It's worth noting that losing weight and being healthy are not always the same thing. Size is not an indicator of any one person's health.)

As she prepares to release her memoir into the world, Wilson says she hopes her book and her own lived experience will give people the message, if they're like me and an emotional eater, that it's not about that stuff."

"It's literally about working at a healthier way to deal with your emotions, and there is no magic solution," she added. "And then maybe me telling my story might encourage them to do the same and make healthy change in their lives."

Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.

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Rebel Wilson Says She Received More Attention for Weight Loss Than Any Movie She's Ever Done - Marie Claire

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Millions of children and adults around the world today suffer from obesity, an epidemic that has concerned the medical world for the last decade. The Instagram and TikTok generation may brush off this issue in the name of body positivity, but obesity has crucial medical consequences. Being overweight puts a person at significant risk factor for a wide range of diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

About three years ago, a Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, initiated a revolution. The company has devoted most of its activity to creating drugs for the treatment of diabetes called Wegovy. Patients began to report that its injections caused not only a balance in blood sugar levels, but also a feeling of satiety, weight loss, and even a balance in fat levels. Further, the company began studies to confirm patient reports that Wegovy did indeed lead to significant weight loss.

In 2021, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of Wegovy, which led to a decrease of about 20% in body weight for patients of the injection. As a result, Americans pounced on the shot and emptied the shelves. Wegovy was only approved in the US at the time, and doctors began to prescribe its "sister", the Ozempic injection, which is made of the same substance but with less than half the dose.

Ozempic was not as effective as Wegovy but still became a hit in Israel. Since then, thousands of Israelis have been treated with Ozempic. The Health Ministry was not enthusiastic about the fact that Ozempic, which is generally intended for diabetics, is also used by those who want to lose weight. Despite this, more and more results of Ozempic, which led to significant weight loss and an effect similar to stomach shortening, caused the ministry to turn a blind eye and agree to this interim treatment.

The Health Ministry approved the marketing of Wegovy in Israel, but it won't be cheap at a monthly cost of about NIS 1,200. In comparison, Ozempic costs about NIS 340 per month. Saxenda, the oldest weight loss shot but the least effective of them all, costs about NIS 500 per month. There are more new weight loss drugs that are expected to flood the market and create a revolution similar to Wegovy, but their arrival has been delayed mainly due to the current war.

The Wegovy and Ozempic injections include a substance similar to the GLP-1 hormone, which plays many roles throughout the body. The hormone causes a feeling of satiety by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, reduces the blood sugar levels in the body, and in ways that are not yet completely clear, also helps reduce fats.In recent months, it has become clear that these injections also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Ultimately though, there is no miracle recipe for weight loss. Studies have shown that stopping treatment with weight loss injections causes a steep increase in weight, sometimes even more than the initial weight. The pharmaceutical companies have not yet tested the long-term effect of the injections, but what is known is that in very rare cases they may increase the risk of pancreatitis and thyroid tumors.

These injections are prohibited for pregnant women or those planning to conceive in the near future. Most importantly, the weight loss injections will not work without a healthy lifestyle and physical activity. Without a low-calorie diet and exercise, these injections will have almost no effect on an individual's weight long term.

Those who suffer from obesity (calculated as a BMI - height divided by weight squared - of 30 or higher), should consult their doctors about suitability for treatment with weight loss injections. Before and during the treatment, it is recommended to go for consistent blood tests, which include the monitoring of pancreatic enzymes, sugar levels, blood lipid levels, and the thyroid gland. These points of course are to be combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

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An insight into the weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic - The Jerusalem Post

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Lizzo has been the voice of body positivity for years, but she shared in a new interview that shes segueing into a more body neutral mindset. Translation: shes less into trying to love her body every second and more about just accepting it.

Im not going to lie and say I love my body every day, the 35-year-old told The New York Times. The bottom line is, the way you feel about your body changes every single day.

The Grammy Award winner has a new swimwear line out under her Yitty brand, but shes also facing ongoing lawsuits alleging harassment and creating a hostile work environment (shes denied those allegations, BTW). Basically, theres a lot happening with her right now, including new weight loss.

Here's what Lizzo has shared about her weight loss journey.

Lizzo told The Times that shes changed her diet, and that's led to some weight loss.

Ive been methodical, losing weight very slowly, she said. But she also recognized that other famous people have gotten public criticism for losing weight. Her take: My body is nobodys business.

Lizzo shared on TikTok back in 2020 that shes a vegan. She also revealed that she was a vegetarian for seven years before that.

In a 2021 day in the life TikTok, Lizzo shared that she has a protein smoothie that tastes like a in the morning.

Lizzo has always shared snippets on social media of herself doing a range of exercises, including running on the treadmill (while singing!) and Pilates. But she told The Times that shes currently focusing on workouts that make her feel good.

Im taking the time every day to put some love into my body, she said. There is never a day when I regret taking a walk or doing some Pilates.

Lizzo shared an IG video in January of herself modeling her Yitty shapewear and shared that shes looking to change things up.

New year, new me. You know how they say 'Run don't walk?' Teleport, bitch," she said.

Overall, Lizzo told The Times that shes just being honest about where shes at with her body.

There are some days I adore my body, and others when I dont feel completely positive, she said.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

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Lizzo's Weight Loss, Body Neutrality Journey: Her Diet, Workout - Women's Health

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People who frequently drink beverages made with sugar or artificial sweeteners could carry a higher risk of a potentially dangerous heart condition, new research shows.

The findings come from a study, published March 5 in the American Heart Associations journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, which found a link between these sweetened beverages and atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), an irregular heart rhythm that can increase a persons risk of stroke and heart failure.

People who frequently drank artificially sweetened drinks, like those containing sucralose or aspartame, had a 20% higher risk of A-Fib compared to those who didnt consume any such beverages. Those who drank beverages made with sugar had a 10% higher risk.

Meanwhile, people who said they occasionally drank pure fruit juiceless than one liter a weekhad an 8% lower risk of A-Fib.

Our studys findings cannot definitively conclude that one beverage poses more health risk than another due to the complexity of our diets and because some people may drink more than one type of beverage, lead study author Ningjian Wang, MD, PhD, a researcher at the Shanghai Ninth Peoples Hospital and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Shanghai, China, said in a press release.

However, based on these findings, we recommend that people reduce or even avoid artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible, Wang added. Do not take it for granted that drinking low-sugar and low-calorie artificially sweetened beverages is healthy, it may pose potential health risks.

Heres what you need to know about the new research, and how it might influence your beverage choices.

seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images

For the study, Wang and his Shanghai-based team of researchers reviewed answers from dietary questionnaires and genetic data from more than 200,000 adults enrolled in the U.K. Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource.

At the time participants enrolled in the research, between 2006 and 2010, they were free from A-Fib. But over the course of a 10-year follow-up period, 9,362 cases of A-Fib were diagnosed.

After analyzing and comparing sweetened beverage choices among participants, researchers found that both sugar- and artificially sweetened drinks were associated with an increased risk of A-Fib.

People who drank at least two liters of artificially sweetened beverages each weekcomparable to about six 12-ounce canshad a 20% higher risk of A-Fib, compared to people who didnt consume any sweetened drinks. For people who drank the same amount of sugar-sweetened beverages each week, their A-Fib risk was 10% higher.

Researchers looked at fruit juice intake too, but participants who drank one liter or less of pure fruit juice each week had an 8% lower risk of A-Fib.

Other factors were also considered in A-Fib risk: Researchers found that drinking more than 2 liters of artificially sweetened drinks per week resulted in a high A-Fib risk regardless of genetic susceptibility to the condition, However, when smoking was paired with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, participants saw a 31% higher risk of A-Fib.

These novel findings on the relationships among atrial fibrillation risk and sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages and pure juice may prompt the development of new prevention strategies by considering decreasing sweetened drinks to help improve heart health, Wang said.

Although there is robust evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to cardiovascular disease risk, less is known about the heart effects of artificial sweeteners, American Heart Association committee member Penny M. Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, said in the press release.

This is the first study to report an association between no- and low-calorie sweeteners and also sugar-sweetened beverages and increased risk of atrial fibrillation, said Kris-Etherton, who is also an emeritus professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State University.

Because this study only shows an association between sweetened beverages and A-Fib, the true heart risks of drinking these beverages are still unclear. However, there are several possible explanations, including insulin resistance and the bodys response to different sweeteners, Wang said.

According to Henri Roukoz, MD, cardiologist and chief of electrophysiology at the University of Minnesota medical school, people who drink sugar-sweetened beverages tend to have a higher risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and other health concerns. Among others, obesity and diabetes are also known risk factors for A-Fib.

Regarding artificially sweetened drinks, Roukoz said the diets of those consumers may be putting them at an increased risk of A-Fibnot the drinks themselves. Patients who tend to consume more beverages that are artificially sweetened, in general, tend to also eat more. They eat also less quality food, said Roukoz. That predisposes you to all these other factors that increase your cardiovascular risk.

The diet theory may also matter for fruit juice drinkers. Patients who actually are careful enough to avoid artificial sweeteners, said Roukoz, and careful enough to consume small amounts of [fruit juice], are probably also watching their diet.

Every person could benefit from cutting back on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages. But while the studys results are intriguing and may pave the way for additional research on A-Fib risk and sweetened beverages, it still had its share of limitations.

The study was observational and relied on participants recalling their own diets, which can lead to less accurate results. The caffeine content of the drinks is also unknown, as were the specific types of artificial sweeteners used in the beverages consumed.

Use of data from the U.K. Biobankwhile robustis also not a perfect match for a more diverse U.S. population, meaning that the same study conducted here could yield different results, said Roukoz. In the U.S., for example, A-Fib is more common in white Americansbut African American and Mexican American adults are more likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages.

Its important too that these findings dont overshadow more concrete A-Fib risk factors, like having sleep apnea or diabetes, or not following a nutritious diet, said Roukoz.

Still, water is the best choice, and, based on this study, no- and low-calorie sweetened beverages should be limited or avoided. Kris-Etherton said.

Roukoz agrees: It is prudent to consume [sweetened] products in moderation. Below two liters per weekit wouldnt hurt to do that.

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Study: Diet, Sugary Drinks Linked to Atrial Fibrillation Risk - Health.com

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Tired from a restless night spent awake? One of the most helpful things to do might be to get some exercise, according to a new study."Physically active people have a lower risk of insomnia symptoms and extreme sleep duration, both long and short," said lead study author Dr. Erla Bjrnsdttir, sleep expert and part time teacher and researcher at Reykjavik University.The study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Open looked at data from more than 4,300 people ages 39 to 67 over 10 years.Bjrnsdttir is affiliated with a sleep application that tracks sleep and gives tips and resources for better sleep. The company didn't fund this study, and the authors didn't report any competing interests.Participants in nine European countries were surveyed about their frequency, intensity and duration of physical activity as well as their symptoms of insomnia, amount of sleep each night and feelings of sleepiness during the day.Those who were persistently active were 55% more likely to be normal sleepers those who sleep 6 to 9 hours a night and those who became active over the time period were 21% more likely to sleep normally after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking history, the study said.The results are strong on their own but are also supported by an existing body of literature, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the research."Our results are in line with previous studies that have shown a beneficial effect of physical activity on symptoms of insomnia, but the current study additionally shows the importance of consistency in exercise over time," Bjrnsdttir said in an email. "It therefore matters to be physically active throughout your life in order to reduce the risk of insomnia and short sleep duration."The study may give health care professionals another tool alongside medication and therapy, said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, codirector of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and an American Academy of Sleep Medicine spokesperson. She was not involved in the research."It gives us an idea of something that maybe we don't always think about for treatment of insomnia," Paruthi said.Will exercise cure my insomnia?There are plenty of reasons why physical activity may help in getting a good night's rest."Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing mood. Physical activity helps regulate the body's internal clock and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.This study does not show on its own that adding in exercise will reduce insomnia symptoms, since it did not get a clear baseline of sleep quality before activity was added in, Neubauer said.However, there is still good evidence out there."There is some literature suggesting people who start becoming more physically active and exercising more do have a tendency to have improved nighttime sleep in terms of their total sleep time, and their ability to fall asleep," he said.It's important to note, however, that people who have long had problems with insomnia likely won't find that exercise completely cures their condition on its own, Paruthi added.And it will vary individually some people will see amazing results, others moderate and a group of people may not see any improvement, she said.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the most effective tool out there for treating insomnia, so people with more severe sleep problems may want to seek that out as well, Paruthi added.Getting activeYou don't have to start running marathons to get the benefit. You just have to start, the experts said."Even moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking or yoga, can have significant positive effects on sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.Paruthi has seen from her patients that there are always roadblocks to getting more active, but that any amount helps."Even if you can only walk two houses to the left, come back and walk two houses to the right that's a great start," she said. "Even if you're doing five minutes a day, you just have to start somewhere."If you want to make your activity even more helpful to your circadian rhythm, you can get outside in the sunlight, Neubauer said."Both being outdoors and being physically active can have a positive effect on our circadian rhythm. And it is our circadian rhythm that promote sleep at nighttime and alertness during the daytime," he said."The degree to which people can modify their lifestyles to enhance activity and being outdoors and getting more light certainly has the potential to have a positive effect on nighttime sleep."

Tired from a restless night spent awake? One of the most helpful things to do might be to get some exercise, according to a new study.

"Physically active people have a lower risk of insomnia symptoms and extreme sleep duration, both long and short," said lead study author Dr. Erla Bjrnsdttir, sleep expert and part time teacher and researcher at Reykjavik University.

The study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Open looked at data from more than 4,300 people ages 39 to 67 over 10 years.

Bjrnsdttir is affiliated with a sleep application that tracks sleep and gives tips and resources for better sleep. The company didn't fund this study, and the authors didn't report any competing interests.

Participants in nine European countries were surveyed about their frequency, intensity and duration of physical activity as well as their symptoms of insomnia, amount of sleep each night and feelings of sleepiness during the day.

Those who were persistently active were 55% more likely to be normal sleepers those who sleep 6 to 9 hours a night and those who became active over the time period were 21% more likely to sleep normally after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking history, the study said.

The results are strong on their own but are also supported by an existing body of literature, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the research.

"Our results are in line with previous studies that have shown a beneficial effect of physical activity on symptoms of insomnia, but the current study additionally shows the importance of consistency in exercise over time," Bjrnsdttir said in an email. "It therefore matters to be physically active throughout your life in order to reduce the risk of insomnia and short sleep duration."

The study may give health care professionals another tool alongside medication and therapy, said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, codirector of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and an American Academy of Sleep Medicine spokesperson. She was not involved in the research.

"It gives us an idea of something that maybe we don't always think about for treatment of insomnia," Paruthi said.

There are plenty of reasons why physical activity may help in getting a good night's rest.

"Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing mood. Physical activity helps regulate the body's internal clock and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.

This study does not show on its own that adding in exercise will reduce insomnia symptoms, since it did not get a clear baseline of sleep quality before activity was added in, Neubauer said.

However, there is still good evidence out there.

"There is some literature suggesting people who start becoming more physically active and exercising more do have a tendency to have improved nighttime sleep in terms of their total sleep time, and their ability to fall asleep," he said.

It's important to note, however, that people who have long had problems with insomnia likely won't find that exercise completely cures their condition on its own, Paruthi added.

And it will vary individually some people will see amazing results, others moderate and a group of people may not see any improvement, she said.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the most effective tool out there for treating insomnia, so people with more severe sleep problems may want to seek that out as well, Paruthi added.

You don't have to start running marathons to get the benefit. You just have to start, the experts said.

"Even moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking or yoga, can have significant positive effects on sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.

Paruthi has seen from her patients that there are always roadblocks to getting more active, but that any amount helps.

"Even if you can only walk two houses to the left, come back and walk two houses to the right that's a great start," she said. "Even if you're doing five minutes a day, you just have to start somewhere."

If you want to make your activity even more helpful to your circadian rhythm, you can get outside in the sunlight, Neubauer said.

"Both being outdoors and being physically active can have a positive effect on our circadian rhythm. And it is our circadian rhythm that promote sleep at nighttime and alertness during the daytime," he said.

"The degree to which people can modify their lifestyles to enhance activity and being outdoors and getting more light certainly has the potential to have a positive effect on nighttime sleep."

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Regular exercise is associated with less insomnia, study shows - WAPT Jackson

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Ive always tried to eat well and exercise, but I lacked consistency. Whether it was the

In April 2021, I finally had enough. I realized doing the same thing over and over without results is scarier than trying something new, so I set up a meeting with a personal trainer at my local gym. I experimented with lifting weights in my early 20s here and there, but I was never consistent and didn't follow a program. But Im a lifelong learner who enjoys getting out of my comfort zone. My goals were simple, yet ambitious: I wanted to master the big liftsbench press, squat, and deadliftand I wanted to understand how to increase weight progressively to reach my full potential.

My first session was tough. Everything was hard, my form was all over the place, and the moves felt awkward. I was also nervous that people thought I didnt belong in the gym. But instead of saying, This is hard I cant do it, I said, How can I improve? Approaching this new challenge with curiosity, rather than fear, empowered me. I was determined to get stronger, and I was ready to put in the work.

I committed to training four times a week: two days with my trainer and two days on my own. I wanted to stay consistent, improve my form, and build muscle. I was excited for the challenge and motivated to get better.

Jenna Seguin at the start of her strength transformation journey in April 2021.

On Instagram, I came across a video of Michelle MacDonald bench pressing and was in awe of her form and heavy weight. I wanted to level up, so I applied to Michelles personal training community, The Wonder Women.

In August 2022, I started virtual training with The Wonder Women five days a week: three lower body days and two upper body days. I prioritized form and focused on progressive overload, but I also got curious about bodybuilding.

Jenna showed offher progresswhen she joinedThe Wonder Women virtual trainingprogram.

I decided to start training for my first bodybuilding competition in June 2023, but 12 weeks into prep, my competition was canceled. The Wonder Women didnt have spots available to transfer into the current bodybuilding training group, so I switched teams and joined Dynasty Training.

Im preparing for my first show at the end of 2024, so I recently started my build phase, which consists of four days of weight training: two lower body days and two upper body days. My goal is to build muscle, but instead of only focusing on how much weight I can lift, I also prioritize tempo and increasing my reps and sets.

For lower-body workouts: I do a glutes and quads day and a posterior chain day. My workouts are typically an hour and a half, and I do seven to 10 moves per session. The number of reps and sets varies, but most of my current lower-body lifts are based on a ladder model: 12 reps, 10 reps, eight reps, and six reps of each move, increasing weight as the number of reps decreases.

For upper-body workouts: I do a shoulders and back day and a chest and arms day. These workouts are typically an hour, and I do seven to 10 moves per session, including bench press, pullups, man makers, lat pulldowns, and pushups.

I also do 35 minutes of cardio six days a week and have one day designated to core and high intensity intervals, and one day of stretching. Sunday is my day off.

Lower body is my favorite to train and I especially love deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats, and hip thrusts. Now, I can deadlift 195 pounds and thrust 300 pounds. Im currently working on adding a pause at the top of each hip thrust and let me tell you it adds a whole other level of intensity.

Im capable of lifting more than my grip can hold, so these lifting straps take some pressure off my hands and allow me to focus on form and heavier weight without worrying about slipping.

I love overnight oats and oatmeal, and adding a scoop of this glazed donut protein powder satisfies my sweet tooth. Theres also no fillers or preservatives which is always a plus.

Ive tried every diet in the book, but nothing was ever sustainable or satisfying. Then, I learned to count macros and realized I could still eat my favorite foods when I paid attention to portion size and nutrition labels.

I eat four to five meals a day and focus on my protein, carb, and fat intake. I always prioritize protein, and chicken, turkey, and fish are my go-to sources. Its also fun to try new macro-friendly recipes, and meal prepping on Sunday sets me up for success during the week.

That said, it took me a long time to get over the idea of restriction. I was so used to eliminating foods and eating as little as possible, but once I learned nothing is off limits and macros are about balance and variety, I felt better than ever. Instead of a month-long, restrictive, fad diet, I realized the most sustainable plan is listening to my body and eating the foods I love.

1. I let go of the notion that my strength journey needs to be perfect.

When I started strength training in 2021, it wasnt necessarily the perfect time to embark on a new journey. But I decided to stop waiting and took control of my situation. Is every workout perfect? Nope! But thats okay. I realized if I keep trying and continue to show up its going to pay off in the long run.

Jenna shared a check-in photo whiletraining for her first bodybuilding show.

2. I became more self-aware and understood the value of the mind-body connection.

Its so easy to operate on autopilot, but Ive learned to evaluate my *entire* lifestyle when something feels off. If my energy levels are low, I look at my diet and sleeping habits. When I'm stressed, I reflect on why instead of letting anxiety rule my day.

As a result, Ive learned the importance of the mind-body connection. How Im feeling physically and mentally can have a direct impact on each other and the overall sense of self-awareness has gotten me closer to my goals.

3. I gave myself the opportunity to be good at something and realized consistency is key.

Most of my life, I participated in diets and fitness programs that had a clear start and end date. Once I understood that people become good at things by being consistent, a light bulb went off. I realized I had never given myself a chance (or the time) to get good. I always expected quick results and a long-term program seemed daunting, but when I challenged myself to start weight lifting without an end date in mind, my whole mindset changed.

Not only do I love that consistency brings me closer to my goals, but I found value and motivation in the process. Whether its perfecting my form or mastering a recipe, the sense of accomplishment after nailing a new skill keeps me determined to get better and stronger. Its fun to show up for yourself and consistency in the gym has given me the opportunity to believe in myself.

More:
'At 43, I Started Lifting Heavy Weights. Now, I'm A Bodybuilder' - Women's Health

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How to Start Intermittent Fasting

While 18:6 is a fantastic fasting window to progress to, I wouldnt start with it, says Bowden. Instead, he suggests this approach:

Start with a 12:12 fast12 hours fasting, 12-hour eating (e.g.: Fast from 8PM to 8AM and eat between 8AM and 8PM). During this time eat three meals (let at least 4 hours pass between meals) and no snacks.

After several days or a week, move to a brunch fast of 14:10, then 16:8 intermittent fasting, and then to 18:6 intermittent fasting.

And remember what you eat during the window matters, says Bowden. Eat real food, always.

To fill up on quality food and a variety of nutrients that means avoiding highly processed food, fast food, simple carbs and sugary treats and opt for nutrient-dense whole foods that include plenty of vegetables and fruits, high-quality protein, healthy fats and nuts and seeds.

Not every day has to be the same when it comes to fasting. In fact, Bowden and Fung both agree its best to occasionally modify your fast-to-feeding windows. Some days, youll be hungrier and will need a longer eating window, while other days, youll be able to sustain super-long fasts and may only need a single meal, OMAD-style.

Above all, listen to your body and monitor your progress. If you feel your progress slipping, dial it in for a period of time with a stricter schedule. The beauty of IF is how fluid and flexible you can be from one day to the next, while still reaping the many benefits of fasting.

In other words, consume snacks or meals that are low in fat, sugar, and fiber content since they will require less work for the digestive system. Foods high in these items can put your system in overdrive and cause bloating, diarrhea or stomach cramps, explains Breazeale. I recommend either a small smoothie, a simple soup (like chicken noodle) or scrambled eggs.

Be mindful of how much youre putting onto your plate, emphasizes Breazeale. Its easy to get excited about increasing your eating window and then end up overeating, she says. Keep in mind your stomach is used to smaller quantities of food and overeating will lead to bloating and discomfort.

She suggests starting with smaller foods that pack a punch nutritionally, such as two scrambled eggs (12 grams of protein), 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (20 grams of protein) or a protein smoothie pouch (12 grams of protein).

Beginning your eating window with a glass of water can help curb appetite, as well as prevent overeating, continues Breazeale. Also, the act of drinking water will give you something to physically do, she adds. The goal is to slow down your thoughts and actions of getting food fastbefore potentially selecting foods that may be higher in sugar and fat.

All diets vary, which is why fasting can create nutrient deficiencies, Breazeale explains. Thats why she recommends a multivitamin supplement, especially for someone who notices theyre missing important food groups from their typical eating plan.

Also, while the body adjusts in the beginning of fasting, a vitamin B12 supplement is often recommended to help with energy, she adds. It can be taken in the morning in a fasted state or even worn as a patch.

And while some supplements contain zero carbs and wont create an insulin response, they could contain up to 15 calories, Breazeale notes. So depending on your goals and structure of your fasting plan, you may want to take all supplements once the fast is over.

But regardless of your preferred eating style, she highlights the following supplements that will break anyones fast:

More:
The Easy Guide to 18:6 Intermittent Fasting - The Edge

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Fitness encompasses a host of activities: walking, running, golfing, climbing all with different metrics to track. The best fitness watch or fitness tracker is one that supplements your workout regime, tracks the data, and fits with your lifestyle.

Our experts have been strapping on fitness watches of all kinds for close to a decade now, testing more than 45 of the best fitness watches and pulling together the best for every situation in this guide. These watches have been tested using standardized methods for comparing sensor accuracy, battery life, functionality, durability, and fit.

Beyond that, weve also taken these watches everywhere from the summits of volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest to the depths of the canyonlands of Utah and pushed these devices to the limit to see what breaks.

Besides our own personal testing, our resident fitness coach reached out to the clients he trains and other athletes for their insights and spent hours reading online reviews. We read spec sheets and compared them across brands and models.

Below are the best fitness watches, GPS watches, and fitness trackers based on our testing. To help you find the best fitness watch for your unique needs, weve included a buyers guide, a frequently asked questions section, and a comparison chart.

Editors Note: We updated our fitness watch guide on March 18, 2024, to include the Garmin fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar, Fitbit Charge 6, Polar Vantage V3, and Garmin vvoactive 5 all exceptional watches for your next adventure.

Best Overall Fitness Watch

Best Budget Fitness Watch

Best Mid-Tier Fitness Watch

Best Fitness Watch for Running

Best Fitness Watch for iPhone Users

Best Fitness Tracker

Best Off-Grid Solar Fitness Watch

Best of the Rest

GearJunkie knows fitness, and our testers know their watches. The team includes Cory Smith, an online running coach and freelance journalist with over 25 years of running and rock climbing experience. Hes an expert, from treadmills to shoes.

Our most recent fitness watch update saw contributor Ilana Newman saddled with more watches than she has wrists to put them on, putting them through the paces in southwest Colorado while trail running, backcountry skiing, and working through daily fitness regiments.

The San Juan mountains provided the perfect testing ground for this new generation of watches, and Newman is obsessed with training data and staying up to date on the newest outdoor gear.

Our experts have crafted a detailed testing regimen that aims to compare these watches on a level playing field, and its not uncommon to see our testers wearing three or more watches at once in order to give them a fair shake.

We compare track lengths, measure heart rate data against dedicated devices, challenge the satellite reception with difficult terrain, and run each of these watches completely dead all in the name of winnowing out the chafe and finding the best fitness watches available today.

Beyond their personal expertise, GearJunkie has solicited the opinions of fellow runners, hikers, and climbers. When the dust settled and the final grades came in, the list above represented the best fitness watches we could drum up. But know that fitness tech is constantly improving, and new functionalities are being added daily to some of these watches. As they improve, so does our coverage, and well continue to test them.

The fitness watch market can be overwhelming. There are so many options all of which might seem similar it can feel as though you need a college degree to tell them apart.

While finding the best fitness watch for you does require some thought and research, this handy how-to-choose guide has all the essential information compiled so you can make the best decision for your fitness watch needs.

We go into everything from GPS reception to how training data is used to provide health and performance predictions. Each brand of watch uses slightly different data and provides different features, each of which is more or less important to consumers. Well spell it all out for you so you can make an informed decision that works for your specific fitness, health, and performance goals.

There are three very distinct categories of watches, each with strengths and weaknesses. Smartwatches are basically small smartphones for your wrist where you can add apps and take calls without your phone.

The most popular smartwatches are Apple and Samsung Galaxy watches. Functionally, theyre geared toward convenience and health tracking, but they tend to fall short on battery life, GPS accuracy, and workout functionally.

GPS watches such as Garmin, COROS, Suunto, and Polar are designed primarily for workouts that require GPS functionality (running, cycling, hiking, swimming, etc.). They tend to have over triple the battery life of smartwatches and are very strong with workout features, metrics, and tracking.

While most will allow text and email messages, and many provide storage for music or access to streaming apps like Spotify, theyre limited in the scope of apps you can add and will not replace your smartphone.

Fitness trackers have the least functionality and only track health and fitness metrics such as resting and variable heart rate, sleep patterns, and steps. Most will need to stay connected to a phone for features like GPS tracking.

Todays fitness watches can track just about any activity imaginable, ranging from running to indoor rock climbing and even surfing. Weve found that watches labeled as outdoor or multisport not only tend to be able to track the more obscure activities but also do so with more detail and granularity. As a result, this increased level of functionality tends to come with a higher price tag.

Some more entry-level watches do allow you to create new activity profiles for sports that are not built-in, but most of the time these only allow you to track the basics like heart rate, time, etc.

For example, while you could track rock climbing with the Garmin vvoactive 5, it does not have a specific profile for it, so you would only get basic data logged for that workout by using a different activity profile such as cardio. The Garmin fenix 7 Pro, however, has specific rock climbing (indoor climbing, climbing, and bouldering) activity profiles that allow you to track each route, the grade of the route, and the length of each climb.

Backcountry skiing is another specific activity that testers found lacking on some of the lower-end watches, since a session includes both uphill and downhill travel, logging it without a backcountry skiing-specific activity profile creates an inaccurate representation. Even using cross-country skiing as a substitute on the Fitbit Charge 6 did not provide the same overall picture as using a backcountry skiing profile on a watch like the Polar Vantage V3.

Depending on the brand and the activity being tracked, you will be able to see different data both during the activity and in the activity summary after completion. If the watch supports navigation, and youre tracking an activity that involves moving, one screen will feature a map with your location.

High-end Garmin watches like the fenix 7 Pro series feature over 80 activity profiles with the ability to add more. The Polar Vantage V3 can hold up to 14 profiles on the watch and requires the Polar Flow app to edit or add more. COROS watches have about 30 activity profiles, but veer more towards technical outdoor activities instead of gym activities like Fitbit fitness trackers do.

All the watches we tested tracked common activities such as walking, running (outdoor, trail, treadmill), outdoor and indoor cycling, yoga, elliptical, general strength, and cardio sessions. If theres a less-common sport youd like to track, we suggest taking a look at the watchs spec sheet to see if its covered.

As fitness watches have gotten better at tracking health and fitness data, companies have been able to use that data to give guidance on training. As a full-time running coach, our tester Cory Smith finds this particularly interesting.

The top reason he sees most runners struggle is because they overtrain or under-rest. Garmin and Polar seem to have the best training and coaching insights, with COROS right behind them.

Garmin, as the leader in the field for training data and even coaching through the watch interface, has a few statistics that seem to be included across their newest watches, no matter how high-end it is. Even these baseline stats can provide a good overview of training readiness and recovery.

Recovery time, for example, is included on both the vvoactive 5 and the fenix 7 Pro. Garmins recovery time uses data from your past workouts, including your recent and long-term training load and Vo2 max. Other data, like sleep and stress tracking can also impact recovery time. Another now-standard piece of training data for Garmin is Heart Rate Variability Status (HRV), which tracks the time in between heartbeats to determine the level of stress your body is currently under, due to training load, life, lack of sleep, and more.

Garmin also uses all of the data it is constantly gathering during all-day tracking as well as activity tracking to provide workout suggestions. High-end watches, like the fenix 7 Pro or Forerunner 745, provide a specific workout each day in the Morning Report, with specific goals like base building, based on past activities and current training status.

Theres also the option to set up Garmin Coach on any Garmin Watch, which uses the Garmin Connect app to choose a training goal such as training for a half marathon and Garmin Coach will provide a training plan over an allotted time.

Polar uses similar data to provide data like Cardio Load Status which looks at short-term training load (strain) vs long-term training load (tolerance) to determine the effect of your training (detraining, maintaining, productive, or overreaching).

Health tracking is standard across fitness watches, from the most basic fitness tracker to the highest-end GPS watch.

Technology for health tracking has advanced a lot over the past few years, and certain features that used to be considered high-end are now available on just about every fitness watch, like SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation measured through red and infrared light), and Heart Rate Variability.

Every fitness watch measures heart rate and sleep, while some, like Polar watches, measure body temperature. Additional health data such as calories and hydration are available on most watches we tested but must be tracked manually.

The Apple Watch provides heart health alerts for low or high heart rates and also allows for medication reminders. All fitness watches provide menstrual cycle tracking, and many have integrated mindfulness into their interfaces, like the Garmin vvoactive 5.

Garmin watches now also track naps, along with overnight sleep. Each brand has its own way of summarizing a night of sleep, but most use a scale of 1-100 to rate the night of sleep while also tracking time asleep and sleep cycles.

For the most part, health tracking features are also standard across brands, but each brand also has features that synthesize data in unique ways, like Garmins Body Battery and Fitbits Daily Readiness.

Garmins Body Battery, for example, uses data from sleep, stress, rest, and physical activity to provide a score from 1-100 for physical energy. Your Body Battery will be highest upon waking and ebbs throughout the day depending on activity and stress (measured through heart rate variability).

Some Garmin watches additionally provide insights such as Easy Day: Your day has been easy so far and you have plenty of energy left for exercise or activity. Other brands have similar features with different interfaces.

If navigation and mapping are important to you, youll have to shell out some cash. You can get some basic navigation features like waypoint markers and tracking integrated into your phone without needing to go for top-of-the-line watches. But if youre going to be using your watch off grid and want to upload your own .gpx tracks, youll need to go for a higher-end Garmin, COROS, or Polar watch.

Entry-level Garmin watches like the Venu 2 and vvoactive 5 that include GPS but lack navigation often feature a back-to-start mode that allows you to use an on-screen compass to get back to where you started recording, without an on-screen map.

Watches with full GPS navigational capability and onscreen maps, like the fenix 7 Pro, Polar Vantage 3, or COROS Apex 2 Pro all allow you to download maps and .gpx tracks for navigation. They all come with basic maps installed, with the ability to add maps available through each brands app or website.

Garmins high-end watches like the fenix 7 Pro have a navigational feature called ClimbPro that shows the remaining distance for a section of uphill travel. Garmin watches also include pre-downloaded ski resort maps for 2000 ski resorts worldwide.

Garmin as well as COROS includes off-track alerts as well as turn-by-turn directions to a predetermined location.

If you want the most smartwatch features, an Apple Watch or similar will be the way to go. But most fitness trackers and GPS watches also include an assortment of smartwatch features.

After Apple and Fitbit, Garmin has the best smartwatch features, with other brands like Polar and COROS forgoing features like contactless payment for better heart rate tracking and outdoor-focused features.

Pretty much all fitness watches sync with your phone and provide notifications for texts and other alerts if you want. You can also turn this off if youre in the camp who seek fewer distractions.

Many Garmin and COROS watches also feature offline music storage, while lower-end watches have compatibility with music streaming apps like Spotify and have music controls. All Garmin watches now feature Garmin Pay and have the ability to download many third-party apps for various additional features through the Garmin ConnectIQ store.Some watches, like the vvoactive 5, even allow you to respond to Android phone texts through the watchs onscreen keyboard.

Most GPS devices are accurate within 1-3%. In our testing, all GPS-focused brands (Garmin, COROS, Polar, and Suunto) performed equally in GPS connection and accuracy. Connection time varied from 10 seconds to a couple of minutes, while distance was within the 1-3% margin.

Its important to keep in mind that location has a lot to do with GPS connection and accuracy. Accuracy depends on multiple satellites communicating with each other freely and reporting back to the watch.

Distractions such as buildings, trees, cliffs, and clouds can affect the satellites ability to pinpoint the sensor in the watch. We suggest asking fellow athletes in the area where youll be working out to find out how their watch GPS performs.

GPS isnt the only game in town when it comes to satellite navigation systems, and many new fitness watches are integrating other global systems to increase fidelity in their location technologies.

GLONASS is a Russian satellite navigation system that provides global positioning data in the same way that the GPS system does, and can provide more definition in high latitudes. Galileo is operated by the European Union and also offers full global coverage. The BeiDou Satellite Navigation System is operated by China and while originally only providing coverage to eastern Asia, went global in 2020. And finally, QZSS, a Japanese system, provides coverage over the Asia-Oceania regions.

Because different satellite systems have undergone multiple generations of satellites, each operates on a different frequency than the last. These older satellites are still functional and provide more data that leads to a much higher fidelity signal when combined with one another. This is multi-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology, and more and more fitness watches today are incorporating it into their builds.

Most outdoor-focused fitness watches now come with barometric altimeters and compasses that support their navigational capabilities.This is where the older term ABC watch comes from.

Barometric altimeters measure elevation through air pressure. They can also predict incoming storms and weather patterns.

Polar and Garmin both have options to set their watches to one of three settings: Automatic, Barometer, and Altimeter. Barometer locks the watch in a mode where all changes in pressure will be considered due to weather and changes in ambient pressure, while Altimeter considers all changes in pressure to be due to elevation change. Automatic determines the best mode for your current activity.

Pretty much all fitness watches that include GPS, even without full navigational capabilities, include a compass. This allows for back-to-start navigation and basic orientation without service.

Monitoring heart rate is one of the most basic features of any fitness watch or tracker, and pulse oximeters have become standard over the past few years. These two sensors allow users to keep track of training strain and overall health.

Each brand of watch uses a slightly different technology to analyze and interpret heart rate data, but they all use similar ways of measuring optical heart rate, known as photoplethysmography (PPG). A green light shines from the back of the watch, through your skin, and reflects off of red blood cells in your veins, measuring blood flow.

Pulse oximeters measure blood oxygen content, which is most useful at high elevations to determine adjustment to altitude and performance ability. Fitness watches use red and infrared light to estimate the percentage of oxygen in your blood. While useful especially for altitude training, watch pulse oximeters are not as reliable as fingertip pulse oximeters.

This is the most notable difference between smartwatches and GPS watches. On average, smartwatches need to be recharged every 24 to 48 hours, whereas GPS watches can last 5 to 20 days between charges.

These times are ever-increasing, thanks to the integration of solar charging on some of the more premium models. Solar charging, like with the Garmin fenix 7 Pro Solar uses a Power Sapphire lens to convert sunlight into power, extending the charge of your watch, depending on sun exposure.

A lot of factors influence how long your watchs battery will last, including what youre using it for. If youre using GPS tracking (and single GPS vs. multi GNSS mode matters), your battery will die faster. Most watches advertise battery life with and without GPS.

For example, the COROS Apex 2 Pro advertises 75 hours in GPS mode (GPS + QZSS) and 45 hours with five satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS), and 30 days for daily use without GPS tracking.

Charging time is relatively quick, with most offering a full charge in around 2 hours. If youre like us and hate having to constantly charge yet another device, we recommend a GPS watch with a longer battery life.

Outdoor and multisport watches are often larger and heavier because of the sheer number of features (and extended battery life), so much so that they can look too big and awkward on small wrists. If you prefer a smaller size, most brands (including Garmin, COROS, and Polar) offer smaller versions of flagship models.

The physical design of watches varies across brands, with some using a 2, 4, or 5-button layout, others using a dial and buttons, and others using no buttons at all.

Garmin tends to have 2, 4, or 5 buttons on their watches. Their lower-end watches tend to have fewer plastic buttons and premium watches feature more metal buttons. Each button can be programmed as hotkeys (press and hold) to access various screens such as music controls, settings, timer, alarm, and more. In our testing, we found that the Garmin buttons feel intuitive, but the left-side buttons can be hard to reach.

Polar uses a similar layout of buttons to Garmin, but we found the material used for their buttons to feel less satisfying and reliable when in use.

COROS and Apple use a combination of buttons and dials. The dial is useful for looking through lists at a glance, while buttons help make choices and find more in-depth information.

Most watches have ways to lock the button use, which can be convenient when you dont want your watch to change screens.Fitbit however, has mostly done away with buttons and uses haptic sensors on one side of the Fitbit Charge 6. Testing found this to be much less reliable compared to buttons on other watches, but it does provide a simple design.

These days, most fitness watches feature touch screens, although there are still some, like the Garmin Forerunner 745 that are button-only. But the type of screens depends on the watch and the brand.

There are two types of displays found on fitness watches AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes) and MIP (Memory in Pixel). AMOLED displays are brighter and perform better in low light, but are not always great under direct sunlight. These are your smartwatch screens that look more like a smartphone. They also use up battery quickly when always on, so they usually are lift or tap to wake.

MIP screens look duller at first glance, with colors showing up differently than on your phone. They use reflective LCD technology that depends on ambient light for visibility. This allows them to be always on and show up brighter in bright sunlight. They use less power than an AMOLED display.

Outdoor-focused watches typically feature an MIP screen since this is the battery-friendly option and allows for better visibility outside, while smartwatches tend to have AMOLED displays.Some watches are even offered in both styles (the Garmin Epix Pro is the same as the fenix Pro, just with an AMOLED screen.)

The actual material used for a screen also matters, especially if youre going to be using it for high-impact activities or just tend to beat up your belongings. Sapphire glass is one material used by Garmin, Apple, and other watch brands that is incredibly crack and scratch-resistant. Another common material for fitness watch screens is mineral glass, which is cheaper but scratches more easily.

Most fitness watches come with silicone watch bands that are easy to swap out. Alternative watch bands can be found through the manufacturer, or, depending on the type of watch, can be found through third-party sites. You can choose between various textiles, rubber, or even leather watch bands depending on your needs.

Silicone is the best for active use, although some designs do need to be cleaned and dried often to avoid the build-up of sweat and grime. Textiles or leather can look nicer.

Perhaps as important as the fitness watch itself is the depth and strength of its ecosystem. An ecosystem is composed of the watchs application, web portal, and supported third-party apps such as Strava and Spotify. To view your data, youll need to download an app on your phone.

As Garmin is the largest fitness watch company, it has the broadest and strongest sport-specific ecosystem. Garmins app and web portal, called Garmin Connect, displays just about all the performance and health metrics you need. Polars Flow app and web portal follow close behind Garmin, with COROS and Suunto following Polar. Amazfits Zepp app is a bit of an outlier, though it shows function and promise.

Price can give you a good measuring stick of the breadth of features of a watch. Entry-level fitness watches tend to focus on basic sports and tracking and cost under $200 retail. Both the Garmin Forerunner 55 and COROS Pace 3 are two of our favorite entry-level watches.

Entry-level watches are perfect for someone interested in casual fitness. More serious fitness people should expect to spend over $200. Moving up in price above $250 brings a huge difference in the look and feel of watches. Premium fitness watches fall in the $300-500 price range, with top-end watches above $500, such as the Garmin fenix 7 Pro Solar.

A fitness trackers primary purpose is tracking health data such as heart rate, sleep, steps, and calories. It uses sensors in the band or watch to monitor. Most fitness trackers need to be connected to your smartphone to access the data.

If you have an iPhone, we would recommend the Apple WatchUltra. Its the bestselling smartwatch, and everyone we spoke with absolutely loves it. If you dont have an iPhone, the Apple Watch will not work.

Fitbit is a great choice, but with Googles recent acquisition in limbo, the future of Fitbit as we know it today is in question.

This is a tough question to answer. It depends on what features youre talking about. In general, we found Apple watches to have the best health tracking, Garmin to have the best GPS tracking, and Polar to have the most accurate heart-rate monitor.

Weve logged hundreds of miles in the latest shoes this spring to help you find the best running shoes. These kicks fit every style and budget.

More here:
The Best Fitness Watches of 2024 - GearJunkie

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