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Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Times
I'm a tracker sceptic. Would these cutting-edge devices convert me?
In fitness terms, I am what might be termed an anti-tracker. I ditched most wearable devices a couple of years ago and, aside from my daily steps, I don't monitor my activity or any of the data related to it, including my heart rate, stride length, cadence, breathing efficiency, relative effort and elevation gains. I don't upload my runs or workouts to Strava, Runkeeper or Apple Fitness, so I don't receive likes or 'kudos' — and yet I feel better for it. My body is sufficiently attuned to my state of fitness or fatigue to let me know when I should push or ease off. I don't need a wristband to tell me. However, when it comes to general health and medical issues, I'll reluctantly concede that I might benefit from more of a regular insight. At 56, I am at the prime age for things to start falling apart and for early signs of age-related decline to set in. As yet I have no problems to report but am surrounded by apparently fit and healthy friends who thought the same until midlife got the better of them and their heart, blood sugar, sleep or joints took a turn for the worse. While it pains me to consider daily tracking, I am prepared to give it a go, albeit in the knowledge that continuous monitoring and feedback from such devices can, ironically, bring its own health issues. • Why we don't need to fear AI — and how to use it for your mental health In the most recent wearable technology report by Mintel, the market research company, a survey of more than 2,000 smart watch owners found that 48 per cent confirmed tracking health data made them more stressed about their health, rising to 57 per cent of people who own smartwatches. Other researchers have blamed sleep trackers for causing 'orthosomnia', defined as the obsessive pursuit of perfect sleep and cited as a reason why sleep might get worse rather than better when wearing one. I have friends who can't seem to function without a health prompt or update from their phones. The last thing I want is to become one of the worried well. As a sceptic, what would a week of tracking my health teach me, if anything at all? Here's what I discovered:F Tracker Lingo (from £59 for a two-week starter plan including two sensors; How it works A continuous blood glucose monitor (CGM) is a plastic disc that attaches to the back of your upper arm and measures how much sugar is in the fluid surrounding your cells every few minutes via tiny needle-like sensors that sit beneath the skin. Data is sent to an app on your phone in real-time and you get alerted if your glucose levels are too high, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, or too low. The idea is that you gain a better understanding of how to maintain stable blood glucose levels that might positively impact your mood, sleep and food cravings. Poor blood glucose management has also been linked to weight gain. What it told me According to Lingo, a normal blood glucose range is within 3.9-7.9 millimoles per litre, although it simplifies this with a single target called your Lingo Count. Mine was initially pre-set at a standard 60 — my goal being to stay below that — but after a week Lingo adjusted the target to 50. Following a fasted morning run, my count was low (16) and eating my late morning porridge with berries, my morning staple, didn't raise it out of range. A cocktail at the weekend saw it hit 80 temporarily, but generally, as expected, it peaked after meals. • The glucose gender gap: how would our spikes compare? Verdict I have tried a couple of other CGM devices in the past and found them frustratingly tricky to administer. My first attempts to extract the two Lingo monitors, produced by Abbott, from their containers failed and the tiny needles broke so I had to order more. They are designed to be worn for seven days but, even with adhesive stickers to keep them in place, one of the replacements came off in the shower after 36 hours. Although the app was easy to download and digest, I found some of the advice irrelevant. On an afternoon when I barely had time to eat I was warned my blood sugar count might be escalating. After a morning run and dog walk followed by breakfast I received an alert to do 5-10 minutes of calf raises to mitigate a blood sugar rise. I would be reluctant to continue, particularly after research at the University of Bath published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last month suggested there is not much point as CGMs provide misleading results. In their study, researchers measured blood sugar responses in healthy volunteers (non-diabetic and a healthy weight) using either a CGM (in this case Abbott's Freestyle Libre 2) and the gold standard finger-prick test. The CGMs overestimated the time spent above a normal blood sugar level threshold by nearly 400 per cent, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety. 'CGMs are fantastic tools for people with diabetes because even if a measurement isn't perfectly accurate, it's still better than not having a measurement at all,' says Professor Javier Gonzalez, a nutrition and metabolism researcher who led the study. 'However, for someone with good glucose control they can be misleading based on their current performance.' Relying on CGMs could also lead to unnecessary food restrictions or poor dietary choices, Gonzalez says. In the trial, whole fruit was misclassified as medium or high-GI foods by the CGMs, while a finger-prick test showed they were low-GI with minimal adverse effect on blood sugar. I can see it might become an obsession but I question the purpose — and cost — of doing it long term. • My Oura Ring is now the third person in our marriage Tracker Hilo cuff and wristband (£209.99; How it works Blood pressure is assessed using the Hilo cuff, which is attached to the upper arm via a Velcro strap and inflates to take the average of three separate readings. Continuous daily blood pressure is then calibrated and recorded via the wrist-worn strap with all results downloaded to an accompanying app, which is free for the basic daytime and nighttime monitoring but costs £4.99 per month for added insights, analytics and syncing with the Apple Health app on your iPhone. A monthly recalibration using the cuff is required. What it told me A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers: the top number is your systolic pressure, the highest level your blood pressure reaches during a heartbeat; the bottom number is your diastolic reading, the lowest level your blood pressure hits between heartbeats. A normal blood pressure range is between 90/60mmHg (millimetres of mercury, a unit of pressure) and 120/80mmHg. For me, the stats were unchanging and within the normal range day and night with a reading of 118/79. Verdict Advice from the NHS is to get blood pressure tested every five years once you get to 40, and you can get tested for free at a community pharmacy from this age. It is a good idea to check it more frequently once you have had a professional reading, especially if you take HRT or have heart disease in the family (neither for me) in which case you should consult your GP. Dr Nikhil Ahluwalia, a cardiology registrar at Barts Heart Centre in London, says the Hilo cuff is one of the home devices that is accurate and easy to use, but he doesn't recommend continuous screening. Blood pressure ebbs and flows on a daily basis, he says, and if you don't have existing hypertension, then once or twice a month is probably often enough. 'There's no evidence that continuous monitoring of blood pressure offers benefits unless prescribed by your GP,' Ahluwalia says. I did love the strap for its simplicity — it's slimline and has no flashing lights or bright screens so you do forget you are wearing it. However, the NHS recommends measuring blood pressure on the upper arm, not the wrist or finger. Tracker Oura Ring (from £349; How it works A ring containing sensors that is worn on your index or middle finger. Connects to an app that provides a daily range of sleep (and other health) stats and an overall 'sleep efficiency' score. What it told me I am a smug sleeper and have never felt the need to use a tracker to confirm I get enough rest at night or that I might need more after an interrupted night. Results confirmed my status as a sleep queen as I was awarded a crown by the app for 'optimal sleeping' with an efficiency (time asleep versus time awake) score of 89. My total nightly sleep ranged from 7hr 7min (woken by the dog barking at a fox in the garden) and a blissful 7hr 56min over the bank holiday weekend. On average, my sleep latency — the time it takes to drop off — was 12 minutes. My Ring told me I got an average of 1hr 23min each night of deep sleep, the type that leaves you refreshed and alert the next day. It did suggest I fidget a lot — I was advised to 'pay attention' to my restfulness, although I'm not sure how I'd address this when I am sleeping so soundly. • Seven things we get wrong about sleep and how to fix them Verdict I don't like wearing a watch at night and when my partner wears his I swear it lights up the entire room. If I felt the need to monitor my sleep, a ring would be the least invasive means of recording my shut-eye. Results were easy to read and digest — although you can lose yourself if you delve into the endless graphs and charts — and I only needed to recharge it once in seven days. However, studies show that no tracker is a match for gold-standard polysomnography tests that measure brain waves, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels and body movements during sleep through electrodes attached to the skin and scalp. A study by Yale University scientists found sleep trackers to be accurate only 78 per cent of the time, dropping to 38 per cent when it comes to measuring how long it takes people to drop off, so I am taking the results with a pinch of salt. Tracker Apple Watch (from £219; How it works There are dozens of health-tracking options on the Apple Watch, but I used it to gauge my heart health and set it to alert me to very high or low heart rates. There's also an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature, activated by placing an index finger on the digital crown of the watch for 30 seconds, which records heart rhythm via an electrical sensor and detects irregularities. It can be used to determine your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which occurs when electrical impulses that trigger muscle contractions of the heart misfire chaotically. Left undiagnosed or untreated, AFib raises the risk for stroke and heart failure. Results are logged on the Apple Health app and a pdf of ECG readings can be shared with your GP. What it told me I don't routinely track my heart rate, but over the years I have been told my resting heart rate (beats per minute or bpm when sitting or lying down) is lower than the average 60-100bpm, which is probably a hangover from hard endurance training in my teens and twenties. I set the watch to alert me if it dipped below 45bpm but its repeated pinging suggested it wondered if I was alive with my daily average of 39bpm. That got me googling slow heart rates, termed bradycardia, and stressing about whether I needed to see a GP, which the British Heart Foundation suggests might be necessary if it is accompanied by fatigue. • Apple's Siri texts 'Do you have cancer?' to woman awaiting biopsy Am I more tired than normal? That's something even the watch can't tell me, although Ahluwalia says I don't need to worry. 'If your heart rate is suddenly much lower than normal it is a cause for concern,' he says. 'If low is your normal range, then it is OK.' I also did daily ECG readings for the week which confirmed at least I was not in the at-risk range for AFib. Verdict All heart health data (including cardiovascular fitness, walking heart rate, ECGs and cardio recovery) are neatly stored together in the Health app on an iPhone so it is easy to access. It was encouraging that several studies, including a 2023 paper published in the journal Cureus, and cardiologists I spoke to support Apple Watch technology for monitoring heart health. I can see myself checking it periodically — provided I remember to wear my Apple Watch.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William's relatable parenting nightmare after Prince George and Princess Charlotte's 'massive fight'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Prince William gave hope to parents everywhere when he revealed even future kings have to deal with stroppy children. The Prince of Wales shared there's often a "massive fight" between Prince George and Charlotte "most mornings" - and judging by the hilarious mimicking from Prince Louis, it won't be long until he's squabbling with his siblings too. Over the years fans have been treated to many adorable insights into the bond between Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, including the indulgent dinner the kids like to make for mom, Kate Middleton. And even though they largely get on great, it's a fact that all siblings bicker every now and then, and according to Prince William there's often a reason for a 'massive fight' between George and Charlotte. Speaking in an episode of Apple Fitness + series Time to Walk in 2021, the Prince of Wales explained that music is a huge passion his children share, but they don't see eye-to-eye on songs. So much so, that their determination to have their own choice of music played apparently leads to frequent arguments. Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family by Tom Quinn, | Was $26.64, Now $18.17 at Amazon Tom Quinn utilizes testimonies from palace staff and historical sources to paint a fascinating picture of what it's like growing up in the Royal Family. This book delves into the traditions that surround royal parenting and reveals shocking and hilarious anecdotes about royal children Deal "What I've been amazed by is how much my children already have inherited my family's love of music. Most mornings there's a massive fight between Charlotte and George as to what song is played in the morning," the future King explained. He then went on to share the solution he implemented to minimize this, revealing that he has to "basically prioritize" that on one day someone gets to choose the music and then someone else takes a turn on another day. Prince William said, "So George gets his go, then Charlotte gets her go. Such is the, the clamour for the music." "One of the songs that the children are loving at the moment is Shakira, Waka Waka. There's a lot of hip movements going along with a lot of dressing up," Prince William continued. "Charlotte particularly is running around the kitchen, in her dresses and ballet stuff. She goes completely crazy with Louis following her around trying to do the same thing." Since Prince William revealed the reason there was often a "massive fight" between Prince George and Charlotte it's possible that the bickering has stopped, thanks to him deciding they should take turns. Although now Prince Louis is older they will perhaps be having to adjust their morning routine at Adelaide Cottage to ensure he gets a say too. During his time in Singapore at the Earthshot Prize Awards, the Prince of Wales reportedly told One Republic, who performed at the ceremony, that Prince Louis is a huge fan. "I can't thank you enough. You were amazing. What a way to start the show. That was incredible," he is understood to have said. "Louis, my youngest, loves your songs." Meanwhile, Prince George supposedly enjoys a slightly different genre of music. Per the Daily Mail, the Prince of Wales spoke with people during a walkabout over the coronation weekend including Caroline Mulvihill, a member of the Rock Choir. "We were talking about the kind of music we do in Rock Choir and Will was telling us in their household they have a very diverse music taste and George is very much into AC/DC and Led Zeppelin," she declared.
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Apple Fitness trainer reveals workout tips after man uses app's 30 min plan to shed almost 6 stone in less than a year
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN Apple Fitness trainer has revealed top tips to help people get in shape this summer using the tech giant's 21p-a-day workout platform. Apple Fitness+ added new programs for strength, pickleball, yoga, and breath meditation earlier this year as the service continues to expand. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Pickleball was one of several new types of workout added to Apple Fitness+ this year Credit: Apple 2 Scotland-native Brian Cochrane is one of the Apple Fitness trainers "Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world," Apple Fitness trainer Brian Cochrane told The Sun. "So we've designed a conditioning program to help people improve their strength and conditioning for pickleball, which is going to be huge." New workouts for more common activities such as rowing, treadmill running, strength and kickboxing are added regularly. And workout time lengths range from as little as five minutes to 45 minutes. Brain says that the variety is ideal as people get caught up in doing too much too soon when a balanced approach to fitness is best. "For the longest time, fitness was about 'how much can I do, how much can I crush myself, I'm not going to think about recovery, I'm just going to go all out every day'," he explained. "But we're actually realising that a balanced fitness regime is better overall. "So even if you're only training 10, 20 minutes, two or three times a week, that's enough. "It might not be enough forever, but it's enough for now. "And building consistency now is going to build adherence longer term. Apple employee reveals huge upgrades on cheapest iPhone model "So you might find that after two months or three months, you want to build up to three or four workouts or go from a 10 minute to a 20 minute or a 30 minute." The Scotland-native also revealed there are plenty of workouts on the app that require no equipment and can be done in smaller home spaces, which tend to be popular. At £79.99 for the year, Apple Fitness+ works out to about 21p per day. However, you can maximise the value further with the ability to share with five members of your family at no extra cost. And some users are getting positive weight loss results too. "One that I've had recently is a gentleman called Ricardo from Portugal," Brian reveals. "He was 105 kilos and he's now 68. So he lost 37 kilos in less than a year just by doing HIIT workouts on Fitness+, which is insane. "But we have so many stories like that every single day."
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Apple Fitness trainer reveals workout tips after man uses app's 30 min plan to shed almost 6 stone in less than a year
AN Apple Fitness trainer has revealed top tips to help people get in shape this summer using the tech giant's 21p-a-day workout platform. Apple Fitness+ added new programs for strength, pickleball, yoga, and breath meditation earlier this year as the service continues to expand. 2 Pickleball was one of several new types of workout added to Apple Fitness+ this year Credit: Apple 2 Scotland-native Brian Cochrane is one of the Apple Fitness trainers "Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world," Apple Fitness trainer Brian Cochrane told The Sun. "So we've designed a conditioning program to help people improve their strength and conditioning for pickleball, which is going to be huge." New workouts for more common activities such as rowing, treadmill running, strength and And workout time lengths range from as little as five minutes to 45 minutes. Read more about Apple Brain says that the variety is ideal as people get caught up in doing too much too soon when a balanced approach to fitness is best. "For the longest time, fitness was about 'how much can I do, how much can I crush myself, I'm not going to think about recovery, I'm just going to go all out every day'," he explained. "But we're actually realising that a balanced fitness regime is better overall. "So even if you're only training 10, 20 minutes, two or three times a week, that's enough. Most read in Tech "It might not be enough forever, but it's enough for now. "And building consistency now is going to build adherence longer term. Apple employee reveals huge upgrades on cheapest iPhone model "So you might find that after two months or three months, you want to build up to three or four workouts or go from a 10 minute to a 20 minute or a 30 minute." The Scotland-native also revealed there are plenty of workouts on the app that require no equipment and can be done in smaller home spaces, which tend to be popular. At £79.99 for the year, Apple Fitness+ works out to about 21p per day. However, you can maximise the value further with the ability to share with five members of your family at no extra cost. And some users are getting positive weight loss results too. "One that I've had recently is a gentleman called Ricardo from Portugal," Brian reveals. "He was 105 kilos and he's now 68. So he lost 37 kilos in less than a year just by doing HIIT workouts on Fitness+, which is insane. "But we have so many stories like that every single day." TOP TELLY TIP Check if your TV supports AirPlay. If it does, you can cast the workout onto your TV screen for a bigger, better experience. Your TV and iPhone will need to be connected to the same Then just hit play on a video via your iPhone, then tap the AirPlay cast icon along the bottom (which looks like the icon here).
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Apple Fitness trainer reveals workout tips after man uses app's 30 min plan to shed almost 6 stone in less than a year
Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor Published: Invalid Date, AN Apple Fitness trainer has revealed top tips to help people get in shape this summer using the tech giant's 21p-a-day workout platform. Apple Fitness+ added new programs for strength, pickleball, yoga, and breath meditation earlier this year as the service continues to expand. 2 "Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world," Apple Fitness trainer Brian Cochrane told The Sun. "So we've designed a conditioning program to help people improve their strength and conditioning for pickleball, which is going to be huge." New workouts for more common activities such as rowing, treadmill running, strength and kickboxing are added regularly. And workout time lengths range from as little as five minutes to 45 minutes. Brain says that the variety is ideal as people get caught up in doing too much too soon when a balanced approach to fitness is best. "For the longest time, fitness was about 'how much can I do, how much can I crush myself, I'm not going to think about recovery, I'm just going to go all out every day'," he explained. "But we're actually realising that a balanced fitness regime is better overall. "So even if you're only training 10, 20 minutes, two or three times a week, that's enough. "It might not be enough forever, but it's enough for now. "And building consistency now is going to build adherence longer term. Apple employee reveals huge upgrades on cheapest iPhone model "So you might find that after two months or three months, you want to build up to three or four workouts or go from a 10 minute to a 20 minute or a 30 minute." The Scotland -native also revealed there are plenty of workouts on the app that require no equipment and can be done in smaller home spaces, which tend to be popular. At £79.99 for the year, Apple Fitness+ works out to about 21p per day. However, you can maximise the value further with the ability to share with five members of your family at no extra cost. And some users are getting positive weight loss results too. "One that I've had recently is a gentleman called Ricardo from Portugal," Brian reveals. "He was 105 kilos and he's now 68. So he lost 37 kilos in less than a year just by doing HIIT workouts on Fitness+, which is insane. "But we have so many stories like that every single day."
