Did it happen?

Want to track your steps? Want to track your calories? Want stats on your weight and body size? There’s tech for that! Want to see the routes you take, your speed, altitude changes? There’s tech for that! There is a ton of cool technology out there to help us gain a better understanding of our personal health.

As someone who has been overweight for a long time, I’ve seen these tech innovations advertised as ways to make it easier to be healthy. All of the data I need in the palm of my hand. To be honest, every time I’ve ever tried to do something it seems so overwhelming, so it was very easy for me to buy into this idea. Trackers for everything! I’d be able to see where the calories are coming from. I’d be able to see if I’m not drinking enough water, and if I spend enough, all kinds of crazy things about my body as I gain or lose weight.

The problem for me occurs with a reliance on this tech though. What if I forget to grab my phone before going for a walk? What if I forget to log a meal? What if I forget to weigh in? Then my data is incomplete! Then my walk and all those steps I took just… disappear. Did it count? Did I just ruin the entire day?

At my weight, and with my issues, this winds up being way more destructive. I have to take everything one day at a time. I have binge eating disorder and really struggle with it all. How do you overcome all of that? The reality is that it all does still count. This seems incredibly obvious, but when you struggle with weight, struggle with diets, its hard. A single failure can send you spiraling.

How can it still count though!? The technology is supposed to help me, but an entire day can be wiped out. thousands of steps just don’t show up. There’s usually not a way to make manual adjustments to correct for the mistake. It is a blessing, and it is a curse.

I think these types of technologies can be helpful, but if you’re just starting out, not so much. At the start, track that a thing happened. Make it simple yes/no markers. Build out a solid repeatable habit. Get something good down first before adding the tech to it. I mean.. insert disclaimer saying I’m not a doctor and you should absolutely work this out for yourself as to what works, and work with your actual doctor. I realize I’m just a yahoo on the interwebs.

There’s a thousand tangents I’d love to make on all of this. I’m curious if this is something you’ve ever struggled with. I’ll catch you out there.

-TFMD