What the WHOOP! - The Lowdown on Wearable Tech
Is Your Wearable Helping You Train Smarter or Just Making You Obsessed?
Apple Watches, WHOOP bands, Oura rings — the choices are endless. Technology today is like medical research: this is the worst it will ever be. It only gets better from here. As people become more in tune with their health, they naturally start to crave more information, not just to stay informed but to keep evolving.
The More You Know… or Is It?
I had an Apple Watch (R.I.P., she didn’t survive my lifestyle). I’ll admit, I didn’t care much for the data it gave me, so I stuck to a pretty basic version. But as my health goals shifted, so did my desire for feedback. I’ll likely invest in something more advanced. Which brings me to the big questions:
How much information is too much?
Do wearables influence our performance?
Can all this data affect how we actually feel about training?
How Much Data Do You Really Need?
Personally, I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much information. But I know that’s not everyone’s jam. Some people love tracking every metric. Others just want to move their bodies and feel good. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.
If you’re a regular gym-goer, relevant data is what counts. Enjoy tracking your steps because it boosts your motivation? Great. Pay more attention to your sleep quality because it helps you recover? Go for it. You’ve got a heart condition and find an ECG function useful? There’s a product for you.
But do you need to chase down every feature just because it exists? Probably not. And unless your GP has raised concerns about your oxygen levels, worrying about your pulse oximeter readings is also not the vibe.
Are Wearables Shaping the Way You Train?
Short answer: yes. Even if it’s subconscious. You check your heart rate zone during a warm-up and suddenly it feels too intense. You see a recovery strain score and decide to hold off testing that PR. As the tech gets smarter, it starts to change how you respond. Sometimes, it changes how you train altogether.
Over time, you might find yourself leaning more on numbers than on your own self-awareness. That’s where things can get murky.
Can It Hurt Your Relationship with Exercise?
Absolutely. Once you start chasing sleep scores, readiness ratings, and calorie burn, it can become a game of stats instead of joy. You stop trying new workouts or listening to how your body actually feels. Instead, you're ruled by rings, numbers, and scores that no one else really cares about.
It’s worth asking: are you using the tech as a tool or letting it become your coach, your critic, and your compass?
Final Thoughts: Use the Tech — Don’t Let It Use You
Let the metrics be a reminder, not a rulebook. Ask yourself, “Do I actually feel this way?” before adjusting your training just because your device said so.
Advice? Use your wearable to build habits, not pressure. Track trends, not perfection. Your body knows more than you think. Let the data support your journey, not define it.