Episode 35: Fit Tech: Friend or Foe?
In this episode, Heather @heatheradams.fitness and Val @valerielusvardi explore the role of FitTech in our health journeys—where it helps, where it hinders, and how to find a sustainable middle ground. They break down how tools like the Oura Ring and tracking apps can support awareness around patterns like weight fluctuations, menstrual cycles, and sleep, offering helpful insights for long-term well-being.
But with that data comes a caution: technology should enhance, not override, our ability to listen to our own bodies. Heather and Val emphasize the importance of balancing external feedback with internal cues, and they offer practical ideas for self-tracking that prioritize movement, recovery, and intuition over rigid metrics. Whether you’re deep into fitness tech or simply curious, this conversation is a thoughtful guide to using it without losing touch with yourself.
Episode Summary
(0:00:08) – FitTech: Friend or Foe (7 minutes)
The episode opens with Heather and Val reconnecting and briefly celebrating Val’s upcoming birthday before shifting into the main topic: the complex relationship between individuals and FitTech. They discuss both the benefits and potential pitfalls of tracking devices, emphasizing their value as tools for understanding personal health data. While enthusiastic about the insights FitTech can offer, Heather and Val also caution against overuse, highlighting the importance of balancing technology with mindfulness and intuition.
(0:06:41) – Tracking Data for Health Awareness (7 minutes)
Heather and Val dive into how tracking patterns—especially around weight fluctuations and menstrual cycles—can empower individuals to better understand their bodies. They note how clients often misinterpret predictable changes during different phases of the cycle, and how tracking can help reduce emotional reactions to those shifts. Tools like the Happy Scale app and wearable fitness trackers are discussed as helpful ways to increase awareness and promote sustainable habits rooted in data and observation.
(0:13:58) – Relying on FitTech Wisdom (13 minutes)
In this chapter, Heather and Val explore the potential over-reliance on devices like the Oura Ring to determine recovery, energy levels, and overall well-being. They reflect on the irony of needing a device to tell us what our bodies often already signal. While acknowledging the value in long-term trend tracking—like changes in resting heart rate—they stress that no data point should override personal intuition. The conversation also touches on how preconceived expectations around menstrual phases can shape performance, reinforcing the importance of tuning into internal signals as much as external ones.
(0:27:11) – Self-Validation Over FitTech Obsession (11 minutes)
Heather and Val close the conversation by advocating for a self-aware and balanced approach to fitness tracking. They encourage listeners to evaluate their relationship with tech tools and avoid letting data dictate every decision. Instead, they suggest using simple self-tracking methods—like jotting down notes—to identify patterns in sleep, energy, and cycle-related changes. Most importantly, they remind listeners that movement and well-being shouldn’t hinge on hitting an arbitrary number like 10,000 steps. The focus should remain on consistency, self-trust, and overall activity.