Way back in June I received a mysterious email from the PR team at Apple. This email was full of praise for my Globe & Mail column—something that still strikes me as odd. Why are executives at one of the most valuable company to ever exist reading my work? And why are they emailing me??
I quickly learned the reason, but that only lead to more questions. Turns out they wanted to give me an Apple Watch and iPhone so that I could see for myself how Apple is using technology to help people change their lifestyles for the better. Being an avowed Android user who relies exclusively on Google’s apps to run my business—not to mention someone who has historically hated wearables—I was a little hesitant to accept this offer. But hey, a free phone is hard to say no to.
It’s been nearly six months now since I started this Apple experiment, and, while I miss my Pixel phone and still think iOS is needlessly annoying, I have to say I have fallen a little bit in love with the Apple Watch. It really is a cool piece of technology.
Just as we use our phones for pretty much everything but talking, telling time is the last thing that the Apple Watch is useful for. Strapping this thing on your wrist is like hiring your very own personal lifestyle assistant. It tells me when I’ve been sitting for too long, reminds me to take a minute out of my workday for deep breathing and mindful reflection. It even sets a 20-second timer whenever I wash my hands. Turns out my own internal stopwatch is far from accurate…I’ve been short-changing my hand-washing all these years!
Of course like all wearables, the Apple Watch tracks your fitness and activity output too. On days when I’m writing, and thus stuck sitting for hours on end, I get gentle reminders to move my butt. And these reminders work. When I see the lack of progress on any of the activity metrics, I immediately take action. There’s a real motivational factor in seeing a string of successful days in a row.
When it comes to exercise I’ve always embraced a minimalist ethos. I don’t plan on changing any time soon, but the Apple Watch has opened my mind to the possibilities Big Tech can offer in the fitness realm. This got me thinking about technology in general, from AI-powered training apparatuses, to plain ol’ walking shoes. Here are some articles that dive deeper into this expansive topic.
Brain & Body
First, let’s explore the different types of technology that are purported to be “redefining” the fitness industry. I present this more as a primer on the subject rather than a list of endorsed products, as I’m sure anyone who’s been paying attention to business news knows fit-tech companies like Peloton and Tonal are facing hard times indeed.
There’s a popular myth about Milo of Croton, a Greek wrestler who is often credited as the father of periodized strength training. His training tool of choice? A cow. Imagine trying to hoist a baby calf overhead during your afternoon group fitness class at the Y. Gives you a greater appreciation for the inventor of the barbell now, doesn’t it?
Here’s another ubiquitous piece of tech that we tend to take for granted. Probably the most common mistake I see people make in the gym is wearing the wrong shoes. Hell, in a perfect world my clients wouldn’t even wear shoes at all, but I’ve learned to pick my battles carefully. This article helps to explain why.
Heart & Soul
Once upon a time I used to be a travel agent. One of the more useful tips I learned during this time is that when you’re travelling abroad it’s often cheaper to buy a local SIM card so you can use your phone without racking up roaming charges. Well, when the visiting the UK last month I learned about an evolution of this practice—the eSIM card. Now all you need to do is download a virtual SIM for the duration of your trip and voila! Instant access to the internet without any surprise bills when you arrive back home.
If you’re the responsible sort who keeps on top of their finances by checking your statements on the regular, you’ll want to bookmark What’s That Charge. With so many automated charged these days, it can be difficult figuring out what’s what. Now you never have to wonder about the credit card charge from FID BKG SVC LLC MONEYLINE…unless of course you don’t have any investments with Fidelity, in which case you might want to call your bank.
As someone who dislikes Facebook in general and Mark Zuckerberg in particular, this piece is very satisfying to say the least. Screw you, Zuck! How does it feel to now only have $37 billion?? Welcome to the poor house, bud. We’ve been saving you a seat.
Social Spotlight
I believe I’ve shared a video or two from Renaissance Periodization (RP) in the past. Their content is excellent and well worth exploring, specifically this series on fitness myths. Dr. Mike Israetel is one of the smartest and most practical people in the training world. He’s also legit funny, which is rare in this industry. There is a lot of fantastic content in this playlist. Watch them all and your reward will be a highly calibrated bullshit detector…a priceless prize if ever there was one.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading!
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Until next time…
- P