& DDainseh

Eat, Play, Keep Fit

Stroll, walk, even run through train stations, airports and to your hotel – and as you do, remember, every step you take means calories burned and that counts toward staying fit while you travel. With the dramatic improvement in the caliber of food presented to travelers planeside, at 35,000 feet, in the hotel and even on the street, food – really good food – has become part of our journeys.

With that also comes the increased temptation to satisfy the palette and enjoy all that life has to offer. At the same time, the demands of travel give us a desire to keep an eye on our physical fitness on the road. Wearables make this easier than ever.

While traveling, I often felt I was getting less exercise. After several months of wearing the simple Fitbit Flex, I found that when I traveled I was actually on the move more often than when I went to the gym to hit the treadmill. Granted on the move while on the road is not cardio. However it is more steps and that was something I had not previously considered.

There are numerous devices to track steps, distance, sleep, and even compete with fit friends. There are simple devices starting at $50, as well as apps for our phones. Now the wearables market has evolved to such heights that we can e-mail, text, listen to music, take calls and more for prices that start in the mid-$100 to well over $500.

Tracking

Searching for a tracking device from one retailer resulted in 82 different options ranging in price from $49 to $299. Several of these medium-priced options would do more than just track your steps; some of the more advanced options included large displays that show steps, plus distance, pace and even odometers for running, swimming or biking.

Most of these devices offer the ability to sync your data with popular apps so you can track your stats. These apps often have communities you can join, or you can invite friends so you can compete against one another. It is a great way to stay connected with others on the road and develop healthy, life-changing habits.

Of all the capabilities I found in these step trackers, the most interesting feature was a continuous heart rate monitor. What a great way to get in tune with your body!

Telling Time and More

Smartwatches seems to be the craze for 2015 with vendors the likes of Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony, Asus, Peeble, and the muchanticipated Apple Watch having launched or with immediate plans to launch. And these smartwatches are so much more than a watch or even a tracking device.

On one’s wrist is the next big thing that does everything we’ve already come to expect – receive texts, e-mail alerts, track your fitness and more – but the Cogito goes a“step”further. Every step, every day, it will even send you a text when it senses a lack of activity.

Much like a James Bond movie, you can screen your calls with incoming caller detail on a classic watch face, answer it, and immediately jump into the deep blue waters of Aegean wearing your phone, watch, laptop – all wrapped up in one stylish package.

Blue tooth capabilities allow you to snap photos on your camera or smartphone.

Style and fashion is not lost either – on the contrary, in these devices, tech savvy meets tech sexy. These are chic, stylish, fashion forward accessories that are statements in themselves.

Eat, Play and Keep Fit on the road; wearables and apps have made the intersection of time, personal productivity, finance, fitness and many other areas of our lives just a bit easier.

So the question is: Where in travel will wearables take us next? BT