Are you healthier since buying the Apple Watch?

[1rottenapple]

I got my Apple Watch back in 2018 I think then I got the series 5 when it came out. I gained weight. It’s not the Apple Watch it’s really on you as the person.

I am in great shape now but it took me huge strides in wanting to change habits and change my life and it wasn’t the Apple Watch that’s for sure. It was educating myself, reading, YouTubing, joining su-Reddit etc. I wouldn’t put Apple Watch as the reason I lost weight.

 

[akash.nu]

I got my Apple Watch back in 2018 I think then I got the series 5 when it came out. I gained weight. It’s not the Apple Watch it’s really on you as the person.

I am in great shape now but it took me huge strides in wanting to change habits and change my life and it wasn’t the Apple Watch that’s for sure. It was educating myself, reading, YouTubing, joining su-Reddit etc. I wouldn’t put Apple Watch as the reason I lost weight.

I like how it took a few days for you to explain after the initial nah.

 

[1rottenapple]

I like how it took a few days for you to explain after the initial nah.

ya I meant to respond to the post but forgot about it until I got a notification when someone liked my response.

 

[tomtattoo]

Did your car break down?😜

No, just a bet with myself.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

I am having a nightmare updating my Apple Watch 3 to watchOS 7.4, so decided to wear my old watch whilst it goes through - I had to remove a link, as after a few years of wearing my Apple Watch I have lost a lot of weight!

 

[Icehawk]

If nothing else, it’s helped make sure I move around each hour. At work, it’s really easy to get in the zone or merely busy, and time flies. I wish I could say the other rings have helped drive me to get healthier, but they haven’t. Once I upgrade from the series 3 and get more info, we shall see.

 

[MisterSavage]

If nothing else, it’s helped make sure I move around each hour. At work, it’s really easy to get in the zone or merely busy, and time flies.

That is just what completely shocked me when I started wearing one. I thought it was malfunctioning at first because when I concentrate on something 50 minutes feels like 15. I was sitting for far too long far too often.

 

[CPelletier]

For sure it has. I am on my feet getting a lot of walking done every day now (between 3 and 8 miles daily) and this along with other measures (dietary) has definitely helped in the weight loss category and I have for sure built up leg strength which has in turn helped with my running.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I am having a nightmare updating my Apple Watch 3 to watchOS 7.4, so decided to wear my old watch whilst it goes through - I had to remove a link, as after a few years of wearing my Apple Watch I have lost a lot of weight!

I wouldn't recommend updating a Series 3 to 7. It slows it down, has a few bugs (my coworker's watch while playing music somehow makes my watch connect to hers and messes with my playlists) and you miss out on all the key WatchOS 7 features, such as the hand washing timer, new faces, etc.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

I wouldn't recommend updating a Series 3 to 7. It slows it down, has a few bugs (my coworker's watch while playing music somehow makes my watch connect to hers and messes with my playlists) and you miss out on all the key WatchOS 7 features, such as the hand washing timer, new faces, etc.

Performance has been fine on mine, although being a 3 it misses out on the handwashing timer and the new faces anyway...

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I've been a keen Fitbit user for many years before getting my AW recently. I'm already sold on the Apple Watch ways of doing things... I love how its encouragement is not too naggy and also specific. Such as the other night when I only had a few kcals left on my Move ring and it gently tapped my wrist to say "Don't lost your streak... you've only got Xkcals to go - a 12 minute brisk walk should do it!".

I've been enjoying the Outdoor Walk talk/podcast things on Fitness+ but today was the first time I'd tried a 'proper' Fitness+ workout on my iPad Pro with my cross trainer (i.e. elliptical). Luckily my cross trainer machine has a tablet holder built-in, but I've always just watched a TV download on it tbh. (As an aside, I tend to enjoy proper trash telly while working out, as it seems guilty pleasures are not so guilty when you're exercising.)

It's sad that they haven't yet included Elliptical as a category for Fitness+, but it still worked quite well taking a treadmill class and just boosting the resistance for 'inclines' and stepping faster for 'speed'... I loved the way the stats appeared on screen as you're doing it, together with your daily rings in the top corner and a little bar indicating how you're doing vs other people who've taken the same class. I'm sure I worked harder than I would have just watching some video on my iPad - I was almost cross with myself that I was so into it!

Am I really that easy to manipulate, Apple? Turns out, the answer is yes - yes I am - but that's OK as I've already lost around 6kg over the last few weeks and plan to keep it up until I fit back into all the clothes that I've "grown out of" during the pandemic.

 

[Septembersrain]

For me, it's helped keep an eye on my Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. I've got a natural method that usually keeps it in check but sometimes it flairs up. My heart rate jumping dramatically when I stand is an indicator that I may start experiencing syncope again.

I was in a wheelchair for a while, then a walker. Now I may pass out only once every 4-6 months at most. The watch helps let me know when I should be extra cautious.

 

[jmgregory1]

I am not going to say that the Apple Watch made me get more healthy, but it has allowed me to track my health improvements in a way that is meaningful and couldn’t be easily replicated just by seeing a doctor every year or twice a year. I’ve had my series 5 now for ~18 months and in the past 6 months of 6 days a week cardio that I’ve been doing, the Watch has been integral in tracking my heart rate during exercise, during the day and lately while sleeping too.

Other interesting metrics I‘m watching include speed going up stairs, V02Max, stand and stand minutes per hour, exercise minutes/day, move and distance. Just having access to all this data that previously wouldn’t have been available (unless you’re an athlete who has access to testing health equipment, makes it so easy to see improvements that wouldn’t show up in more typical physical form, like losing weight.

 

[QCassidy352]

No, but that’s also not what I got it for.

 

[stockseer]

Wow, glad you're doing better. Did the watch alert you that your O2 level was low without you doing anything or was it when you were taking a measurement?

I took a measurement to confirm what a fingertip o2 sensor already suggested (it was at 88; below 90 is a warning re: Covid). So yes, checking O2 really made the difference in my calling my doctor then 'driving' to the ER in the nick of time. Now: I'm home continuing recovery and check O2 at least twice daily... consistently in the mid-to-high 90's, which is ideal. And thanks! I believe my recovery speed is faster than a lot have experienced.

 

[lordhamster]

The title of the thread asks if I've gotten healthier since getting the watch. From a timeline perspective...yes. From a causation perspective no.

I have lost 57lbs over the course of the pandemic because I stopped traveling for work and have been eating better. Interestingly, on my watch I was able to observe my resting heart rate go down significantly in relation to the weight loss.

 

[stockseer]

The title of the thread asks if I've gotten healthier since getting the watch. From a timeline perspective...yes. From a causation perspective no.

I have lost 57lbs over the course of the pandemic because I stopped traveling for work and have been eating better. Interestingly, on my watch I was able to observe my resting heart rate go down significantly in relation to the weight loss.

wow; congratulations! I lost 20 lb and my heart rate also is better 'at rest'; although in my case it was from being sick and lost in the ICU. Definitely healthy weight matters. In my case my doctor told me to 'keep it off'. I will buy the next model Watch too; and hope it includes the Blood Pressure sensor.

 

[MisterSavage]

I took a measurement to confirm what a fingertip o2 sensor already suggested (it was at 88; below 90 is a warning re: Covid). So yes, checking O2 really made the difference in my calling my doctor then 'driving' to the ER in the nick of time. Now: I'm home continuing recovery and check O2 at least twice daily... consistently in the mid-to-high 90's, which is ideal. And thanks! I believe my recovery speed is faster than a lot have experienced.

That's so interesting. Really appreciate you sharing this with us.