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Over the years, I’ve owned a fair few smartwatches and fitness trackers, and I’ve definitely found some that stand out from the crowd. Most recently, I’ve been using the new Garmin Forerunner 165, and it’s quietly become one of my favourite bits of everyday kit. Read on to find out more…
This watch has slotted into my routine so naturally that I almost forget I’m wearing it, until it buzzes to remind me I’ve been sitting too long or flashes up my morning sleep report that helps me understand why I feel sluggish despite an early night.
So, here’s a little peek at how I’ve been using the Forerunner 165 across a typical day, and why I think it’s so brilliant.
Some years ago when I first started my C25K running journey I had an entry-level Garmin Forerunner which did the job, but was pretty basic. Fast-forward 6 years and the Forerunner 165 smart watch is a leap ahead and it’s designed specifically with runners in mind, with heaps of features.
Don’t let all that running functionality put you off though, it effectively tracks more than 25 different sports and tracks all the basics you’d expect like steps and sleep too.
One of the tools in my feel-good arsenal is always exercise. I exercise becuase moving my body makes me feel good and I enjoy it. Enjoying something of course, doesn’t always mean that finding the time to do it is easy, and whilst I’m definitely lucky that I enjoy moving my body in a variety of ways, fitting it into a busy life can be tough, and let me tell you, I’m inconsistent as all heck. I mean, where’s the dopamine hit from routine and consistency?!
Staying on track for me has always meant obsessive tracking, from knowing exactly how many grams of protein I’m ingesting each day to how many minutes I’ve spent in optimum heart rate zones, I’m an absolute nerd for the stats.
I loved how much information the watch provides without me even needing to open the app. The two pictures below were taken after an evening treadmill run, and clearly showed me the good stuff – all the details I like to know, like heart rate zone and aerobic score, right there on my wrist!
The Garmin watch immediately played well with my Garmin app and took seconds to connect. The app is truly wonderful, putting a whole heap of different information at your fingertips, so if like me, you like lists, charts, spreadsheets and graphs, you’ll love the information collected by the Garmin app.
I’m not a naturally early riser, so any kind of help getting me going in a morning is more than welcome. The Forerunner 165 provides a daily sleep report, showing how long you slept, your different sleep stages, and even how well you’ve recovered. It’s not about chasing perfection, far from it, it’s just about better understanding your body.
Lately, I’ve noticed a direct link between low recovery scores and days when I crave sugary foods and when my joints are prone to a flare up (thanks, Palindromic Rheumatism). Having that data at my fingertips helps to me decide when I need to take it easier, so I naturally give myself a little more grace on those days.
Once I’m up, I’ll check my Body Battery score to see how my energy reserves are looking, and if I’ve got time, I’ll squeeze in a short pre-work treadmill run or schedule a lunchtime walk, both of which are tracked effortlessly.
I spend a lot of time at my desk, and it’s easy to lose track of time when I’m deep in writing or editing mode. One feature I really appreciate is the movement alerts. At regular intervals, the watch gives me a nudge to get up and move – just a gentle reminder that I’m not in fact a houseplant.
Sometimes that means doing a few cat-cow and downward dog stretches, grabbing my weights and doing a few reps, taking a walk to the kitchen, or doing a few minutes of breathing exercises (which the watch also supports). It’s a small feature, but it’s made a noticeable difference to how I feel at the end of the day and it has helped to increase my overall step count too, proving that seemgingly small habits can have a big impact.
On the days I fancy a proper workout (and have the time and energy), I love that the Forerunner 165 easily tracks my treadmill runs, open water swimming or yoga sessions. I can view detailed summaries on the Garmin app, which is super easy to use and doesn’t bombard me with jargon.
One of my favourite things is how customisable it is – you can change the watch face to match your mood or outfit, and tailor the data shown to exactly what you care about most. Whether that’s steps, heart rate, V02 Max or recovery, it’s all just a glance (or a tap) away.
For those that want something super simple, yet accurate and powerful to track little more than daily steps, you can keep it simple and easily customise your watch face to show only what matters to you. Likewise, if you’re training for a race or just want to improve your Parkrun time, the detailed running stats available mean you can tailor it to your exact needs and preferences.
As my day winds down, I always check back in on my stats and will even go to bed earlier depending on my sleep score the previous night, even if I don’t feel particularly tired. Did I get my steps in? How high did my heart rate go during that run? And if I didn’t hit a goal, that’s fine too, the data helps me make better choices tomorrow.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 isn’t just a fitness watch, I regard it more as a little pocket coach, a tiny little cheerleader that helps me stay accountable, but also flexible. I’m not about all-or-nothing workouts or smashing personal bests every week, I don’t have a competitive bone in my body, I just want to feel stronger, move more, and take care of my health in ways that feel fun, rewarding and fit with my busy life.
Whether I’m walking, swimming, running, on my yoga mat, or just trying to make it through the day with less fatigue and more self-awareness, the Forerunner 165 has been a fabulous addition to my journey towards improved health and wellbeing.
DISCLOSURE | This content was written as part of a paid collaboration with very.co.uk
The post WELLBEING | From Sleep to Steps – A Day in My Life with the Garmin Forerunner 165 appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.