NEW YORK -- Maybe you dont really need a fitness tracker.It might be tempting to get one, now that the weathers nice and youre spending more time outdoors. A Fitbit or an Apple Watch, for instance, could prove useful if youre new to exercise or looking to increase physical activity. They nudge you to keep moving throughout the day and track workouts like running and cycling. Many devices also measure heart rate and sleep.But if youre a procrastinator or have trouble staying motivated, a tracker can easily end up in a drawer. If youre already athletic or fairly stable in your routine, it might just tell you the same thing over and over again, which wont help much.I speak from experience, having worn as many as seven trackers simultaneously to test them out. So know what youre getting -- and what they dont do -- before you spend as much as a few hundred dollars on one.---COUNTING STEPSFitness trackers typically use arm swings to gauge how far youve walked or run and push you to reach, say, 10,000 steps a day. Many also track floors climbed and calories burned.They can keep you on track if youre new to physical activity -- if youre the type to go for a walk at 11 p.m. just to meet that daily goal. But a tracker wont do much if you keep telling yourself, tomorrow.Once you hit that goal consistently, you might be inclined to leave your tracker in a drawer . But if youre competitive, Fitbit and other companion phone apps will let you enlist peer pressure by joining groups that track, challenge and taunt each other to meet and exceed those arbitrary goals. Some devices, like the Apple Watch, will also step up your goals as you improve.Of course, this count isnt perfect. Trackers might give you bonus steps for doing the dishes or even, um, punching someone, as theyre measuring arm movements. A bike ride also wont reward you with steps, though some devices will credit you with calories burned.---HEART BEATSMid-range and higher-end trackers offer heart-rate monitoring, but these arent medical devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Measurements can vary wildly at times -- one I tried briefly recorded a deadly 243 beats per minute, and another a sub-normal 43 -- but most readings are close enough to give you a general sense of your workout intensity. A higher heart rate means your workout is tougher -- though heavy breathing and fatigue will also tell you that.---FOR WORKOUTSThese devices are awful at translating steps to miles, and very few let you calibrate your tracker by checking it against a known distance. GPS in higher-end trackers help, but that drains the battery more quickly, so many long-distance runners might see their trackers die before theyre finished.Most GPS fitness trackers also arent as versatile as a GPS device fine-tuned for running, cycling, golfing or whatever your sport is. And while trackers are typically water resistant, few work for swimming.A tracker lacking sports-specific features can still be useful. You might run three miles with a GPS running watch and use the tracker to make sure youre not sitting the rest of the day.---HOWS YOUR SLEEP?Most trackers also monitor sleep, though Apple and Android smartwatches require third-party apps. If you toss and turn a lot, the tracker will mark you as a light sleeper. If you get up to use the bathroom, the tracker will note that, too.But is it useful? While a tracker might deem you a light sleeper, it cant guide you to better sleep. All it can do is recommend more sleep.---DO YOU HAVE A DESK JOB?Even if you meet step goals, prolonged sitting can be unhealthy, too. Many devices now have reminders to get up and walk around, though theyre useless if you keep ignoring the prompts. Sometimes they even nag you while youre in bed -- which is especially irritating if your tracker is also on your case about getting more sleep.---YOUR PHONEMany key features are already available on phones. The iPhone has Health built-in for counting steps, while you can get Google Fit for Android. You can also download Moves for either system. Beyond steps, GPS apps such as Strava will track running and cycling workouts.A tracker could still be a worthwhile investment for some people. The phone wont record sleep or remind you to take breaks, nor will it record steps when your phone sits on a desk. Microsofts Band 2 adds a UV sensor to warn you when you need sunscreen, while the Samsungs Gear Fit2 can track squats and other strength training.The key is whether youll use it. If you cant even motivate yourself with a phone, a tracker is just a waste of money.---Online:Guide to choosing the right tracker: http://apne.ws/2av5bms Custom Edgar Martinez Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Wholesale Custom Mariners Shirts . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. http://www.custommarinersjersey.com/ . 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