[Newsletter] The Smartest Coach in the Room

Surprising truths about data trackers Every Saturday, The Smartest Coach in the Room delivers helpful takeaways on the hottest nutrition and health topics and the world’s most effective coaching techniques. (Did some amazing friend forward this to you? [Subscribe here]( Surprising Truths About Data Trackers “What’s the best fitness tracker?” ☝Coaches pose that question in our Facebook communities a lot. And hundreds of people comment, arguing for their favorite brand as if they were trying to convince Cowboys fans to root for the Giants. These coaches are asking the wrong question, says Kayla Nuss, PhD, PN1. She should know. Dr. Nuss has focused much of her graduate research on the relationship between data trackers and motivation to exercise. At least when it comes to clients, she says, a better question is: Is a fitness tracker the best tool FOR THEM? “For some people, the tracker is the right tool. For others, it’ll lead to a persistent feeling of, ‘Geez, I suck,’” says Dr. Nuss. (Side note: We appreciate a scientist who’ll keep it real and use the word “suck.”) This latter group tends to see weight, heart rate variability, or sleep quality as a statement of who they are. According to Dr. Nuss’s research, people are more likely to fall into this category if they… ✓ See the behavior they’ll track as a chore, making comments like, “I have to do this to lose weight.” ✓ Don’t feel they have a choice. Someone might say, “I don’t want to exercise, but my doctor told me I have to.” ✓ Do the behavior to avoid feeling guilty. In other words, they exercise because they don’t want to feel bad about not exercising. For more details and a series of checklists that can help you decide whether high-tech trackers will help or harm a client, read: [Health and Fitness Trackers: Do They Help… or Hurt?]( (Have a look at this chart from the story: It shows the degree to which fitness trackers can under- or over-estimate calorie-burn.) 10-Second Takeaways - Trackers motivate many, but the benefits can wear off after just three months. Researchers call this “the novelty effect.” - Some folks thrive with technology and data. They tend to be numbers-oriented, have more advanced goals, and see data as information and nothing more. - Trackers demotivate other people, especially when they come with preset goals (10,000 steps) that the wearer continually fails to reach. - High-tech trackers are just one way to measure progress. In [the article]( we’ll share 10 other trackers that don’t involve batteries or electricity. Want to learn more about nutrition science and how to use it to help people make healthy eating and lifestyle changes? Check out [Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification](. It combines the science of nutrition with the art of coaching so you can help anyone make evidenced-informed decisions and achieve their most important health and fitness goals. (Our next session opens soon!) [Become a Certified Nutrition Coach - Join the presale list for the #1 rated PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification]( Take care, Alex Alex Picot-Annand, PN2, Holistic Nutritionist Senior Writer Precision Nutrition (Home of the world’s top nutrition coaches) --------------------------------------------------------------- What did you think of this email? Precision Nutrition Business Insider's #1 Choice for Nutrition Certifications in 2022 --- To view this email as a web page, click [here.]( Precision Nutrition Inc. 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801 Toronto, ON, M5E 1W7, Canada Finally, nutrition makes sense. Visit us at [www.precisionnutrition.com]( today. Follow us on [Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences](