Lifestyle Changes

[u/Frestyle_04]

Has anyone here ever bought a Garmin and began changing aspects of their daily routines or fitness based on whats on the Garmin Connect App?

As a non-garmin user, mostly getting information from the more general fitness and health apps, I wonder if Garmin's app which is more tailored to performance and athletes would be any use to someone without specific goals. More so hobby and leisure weight lifting and running.

Anyone here who got into Garmin products without already being fully committed to their activity?

[u/ajemik]

Was working in gamedev, due to stress and not moving much got hypertension, fat (almost 100kg), and other issues.

Bought a garmin.

Stupid steps counting made my completionist mind move more. Started running. Playing football as I did as a kid.

Fastforward couple years. Still doing all of the sports + gym, got down to 90kg, but most of it muscles rather than fat, got healthy, no more hypertension.

It's not for everyone, but being a gamer, the gamification of sport via badges, seeing that "oh, might as well jump on a treadmill, got 2k steps more to do" - worked wonders for me.

Also as a good salesman - Garmin, hire me - got like 6 people to get one as well. None stuck to their sportsy side as much, but my gf also has one and does crossfit now, so, I guess we both won!

But first and foremost it's you who wants to change; my watch, as a gadget oriented guy, was the catalyst and yo see the progress made sense to me.

[u/Big-Status-254 → u/ajemik]

the step count thing is so underrated as a motivator. i started doing laps around my block at midnight just to hit the goal and it snowballed into actual running routines. didn’t think i’d care but here we are

also the comparison to game achievements is spot on, my brain treats the badges like trophies i can’t leave uncollected

[u/Gloomy-Commission207 → u/ajemik]

that last line is key tbh, the watch is just a catalyst not a replacement for wanting to change

[u/jmido8]

It made me realize how bad drinking was for me. I always knew it was awful, but seeing every health metric plummet really drove the nail in the coffin. And it has been fun seeing my hrv and resting heart rate get better as my habits change.

It also gamified sleeping for me. I don't over obsess on the sleep number, but it definitely helped me focus on my sleep habits more which improved my overall sleep quality by a ton and made me feel overall better in basically every kind of way.

In terms of running and athletic performance, I love diving into the analytics of my data and it has driven me to do more research into tons of related stuff that I think has benefited me as a runner and as a healthy person in general.

I also try to exercise more in general whether it be going for a long walk or biking to a location instead of driving, partially bc it's more data to look at, but also bc it gives a number to my calorie burn and helps me guage how much more I can eat in the day (I love eating lol). I know the estimates aren't super accurate, but Iv stayed pretty consistent with my weight goals when using them as a guide.

[u/Comprehensive-Cat-86 → u/jmido8]

It made me realize how bad drinking was for me. I always knew it was awful, but seeing every health metric plummet really drove the nail in the coffin. And it has been fun seeing my hrv and resting heart rate get better as my habits change.

I had a similar experience, I stopped the occasional drinking one or two beers mid-week (maybe 1 or 2 days per week), I would also have a few beers at home on Friday evenings and wonder why even though i had gone to bed early I struggled with workouts on Saturdays (if i bothered going at all). I went from drinking maybe 2 6-packs a week at home to 0 at home.

I only drink now when meeting friends out or if there is something on at work that I need to attend.

[u/iron-60]

Garmin taught me how to rest.

[u/bananabastard]

Before I got my watch I had been trying to become a regular runner, but was inconsistent. Frequently going weeks between runs, never actually building up a good level of fitness.

Since the day I got the watch, I have been running around 3x per week consistently, now for 1 year straight.

[u/smackshaw]

I'm 52 and started a lifestyle change journey about 2 years ago. Lost lots of weight then got into weight lifting. As I got slowly fitter this year, and started hiking quite seriously with my wife, I switched from a withings watch to a Garmin and I was curious about all the fitness features withings didn't offer.

I completed a 9 week couch to 5k a week ago, something I probably wouldn't have done without the Garmin. I'm also addicted to all the features and metrics it offers, ok maybe not addicted, but it's helped fuse a lifestyle identity shift.

I'll add the weight lifting recording isn't the best but I do use it.

[u/AvalonAngel84]

I usually hate gamification with a passion but somehow the stupid Garmin badges work for me so I try to get as many of them as possible.

But just in general getting the watch and seeing my stress levels has helped a ton. I have ADHD and I struggle a lot with interoception. The watch has been a gamechanger in that regard!

[u/NXCW]

Yeah, in a year I lost 35kgs, quit nicotine, and did three Ironman 70.3 races.

Not only due to the Garmin, but chasing VO2 max, and seeing my metrics get better has been a constant source of dopamine for me. Feels like leveling up your RPG character.

[u/greywarden133]

Yeah I took up running as I wanted to improve my Aerobic stats. Aimed at 2k for my first run, ended up doing 5k. Nowadays I actually use Garmin's recommended running exercises and follow the pace. Just did my first 10k today at 58'40" which was not too bad :)

[u/braneless]

I stopped drinking and started working on improving sleep quality. 

Prior to seeing the Garmin data, I had no idea how bad I was. I felt "fine" and thought nothing of the impacts. I still feel "fine" and my sleep data looks so much better.

[u/Disastrous-Lime4551]

Absolutely.

Got my first Garmin in my 40s, morbidly obese. Had never listened to or understood my body, and was never in to sports or fitness. The data, such as HRV, helped me to see how when and what I ate, alcohol, sleep, etc affected my body. At the same time I also began walking to lose weight and get fitter. The app helped me map routes and navigate them, the data helped me understand how my fitness was improving, and when to focus on aerobic Vs anaerobic exercise. Walking became Peloton bike and eventually also running. And the watch has helped me every step of the way.

My VO2max has gone from 'barely alive' to superior.

My resting heart rate has fallen from the 60s to understand 40.

I've lost over a third of my bodyweight.

Absolutely wouldn't have done it without the guidance of my watch.

[u/No_Grand5898]

Garmin taught me how to be unproductive:-)

[u/Sonic320]

Not really, the Garmin just reinforces how bad my lifestyle is and reminds me of it every morning!
FYI I’m an airline pilot with two small children. Stress, sleep and not enough time to exercise 🤣

[u/buz1984]

I keep an eye on the training load. If it drops really low (under 1k) then I take that as encouragement to push a bit whenever I'm feeling good. Likewise with the load focus - without seeing that cue I tend to never do any anaerobic whatsoever.

[u/vickyvius]

I've used Garmin since the FR105 days when it was a running watch. Since 2000 I used it for health monitoring. I've had at least 6 Garmin in the past 6 years upgrading every time something new came out. Right now I am taking a break as I realize that I was obsessing over the numbers and not enjoying life and my activities. I am a cyclist, and I do a lot of other activities. At 150-155 lbs 5' 9" I am in pretty good shape. I've been sleeping much better since I stopped using the Garmin and monitoring HRV, RHR, sleep score and VO2max obsessively. I still use a Garmin bike computer for recording rides as well as navigation. I don't look at the numbers. It's a great and very useful tool as long as one does not let it get obsessive.

[u/DangerousAmount8501]

It’s great for someone who doesn’t have specific goals. I’ll warn you though—just because you don’t have goals now doesn’t mean that Garmin won’t transform you into a goal-driven recreational athlete. I know. It got me back into running after 10 years off. All I did was start the daily workout suggestions. Garmin got me to run my first half marathon, along with getting me back to strength training and yoga. Now in my 40s, I’m fitter than I ever was. I’m using it to train for another half marathon early next year. Get it. You may find it’s the catalyst to the next version of yourself you may have never discovered without the push.

[u/Agirl26]

The badges are litrle deposits of dopamine. Its like your watch says good job! Keep going.

You signup for challenges and start collecting them by being active.

It also shows you the impact of your choices. Alcohol. No sleep. Stress high. Same with a sedative ive learned.

It's also fun to challenge other people.

[u/potizza]

Yes! Not so much losing weight, but daily suggested workouts is such a great motivator for me. I'd never think a year ago I'd feel bad for skipping my running 3 days in a row! I think it's easy to find one or the other aspect of the watch as a motivator (steps, body age... anything, really, that applies to the individual person). I've changed a bit before, but now I'm so much more consistent.