How Wearables and Tech Fit (and Don’t Fit) Your Training Journey
Fitness tech is everywhere: smartwatches, calorie trackers, & AI-powered apps. But more data doesn’t always mean better results.
At THP, of course I use data to support your coaching, but it’s not always a complete picture. Wearables can help track sleep, heart rate, and activity, but they can’t judge effort, stress, or motivation. As a coach I can see the missing context, how you feel during training and recovery.
Here’s how the tech fits and where the boundaries are:
✅ Where Tech Can Help
Many adults now use wearable devices. In the UK, for example, roughly 42 % of people report using wearables. Market.us Scoop+2Mordor Intelligence+2
The UK wearable-technology market is growing fast: one estimate puts the market at USD 5.72 billion in 2024 with a projected growth to USD 14.17 billion by 2030. Grand View Research
Tracking objective metrics (sleep, heart rate variability, steps) gives you useful information about your readiness, recovery and workload. At THP, that information can help to shape session design, detect fatigue, and tweak loading.
⚠️ Where Tech Doesn’t Replace You
The numbers alone won’t tell you how much hidden stress you’re under, how well you really recovered, or whether your form and effort were optimal.
Devices can mis-interpret context, for example, a low HR reading might look “good” but might actually mean you were under-challenged, bored, or foregoing load.
Dependence on metrics can lead to rigid behaviour: chasing numbers rather than responding to your body. That undermines consistency and enjoyment — something we know matters more than raw volume.
🎯 How THP Brings the Two Together
At THP I focus on designing short, structured sessions that deliver results without stealing your time. Aligning the tech with your life, not the other way around:
I review wearable data with you: what the data shows, what it might miss, and how you feel.
Together we set realistic goals: if your tracker shows less sleep and your week is busy, we may decide to dial back intensity rather than push harder.
As an ethos I prioritise consistency over perfection: 2-3 high-quality workouts a week can drive progress when paired with recovery and support.
I seek to build enjoyment and belief (self-efficacy) into the process, because research shows that enjoying your workouts and believing you can stick with them strongly predict adherence to training. (That aligns with many coaching findings.)
At THP I emphasise that tech is a guide, not a dictator. The goal isn’t hitting every metric, it’s finding balance that fits your life. Training shouldn’t become another stressor.
