Don’t slack off! Wireless bracelets monitor your fitness

W ireless bracelets that monitor your fitness activities are becoming a mainstream phenomenon. ∙ These wrist-mounted sensors count daily steps, calculate distance traveled and track estimated calories burned – and then send this information wirelessly, via Bluetooth, to a nearby smartphone, tablet or computer. ∙ Consider them the big brother to the pedometers of yesteryear. ∙ Some let you glance at your progress on the product’s small screen –the Basis Carbon Steel, Garmin Vivofit, Nike+ FuelBand SE or Samsung Gear Fit models, for instance. Others lack a display and are designed to be used with the free companion app or website, such as the FitBit Flex, Jawbone UP24, Misfit Shine or Sony SmartBand.

Typically, these high-tech products set you back between $100 and $200, but some are as low as $50, like the Fitbug Orb. ∙ But you already know all this, you say? These trendy products can do more than you think. ∙ Here’s a look at some lesser-known features of the latest activity trackers.

Heart rate monitors

Some of the newer activity trackers – such as the Basis Carbon Steel Edition and Samsung Gear Fit (each $199.99) – have an optical sensor on the underside that touches your skin and detects your resting and active heart rate (measured in beats per minute).

Apple’s long-rumored iWatch, which is said to go into production soon, should also sport a heart-rate monitor, along with a blood oxygen monitor.

Some activity trackers, such as the Garmin Vivofit ($129.99), work with an optional chest strap monitor ($169.99 for the bundle).

Tracking your sleep

While most people are aware activity trackers measure, er, activity – such as walking, jogging and running, and in some cases, cycling and swimming – most of them can monitor your sleep, too.

By wearing these wristbands while sleeping, the sensors can detect if you woke up during the night, when and for how long. The information can be seen in chart and graph form, on an app or website, which can be shared with a physician for analysis.

The Basis Carbon Steel is also capable of tracking all phases of sleep – including REM, deep sleep, light sleep and toss-and-turn – offering a deeper level of insight into an important element of overall health.

Many can vibrate to wake up the wearer like an alarm clock, without disturbing their partner.

Setting goals

Utilizing the companion app or website, many of today’s activity trackers let you set personal goals, such as walking 10,000 steps per day or perhaps losing weight over a period of time (say, 5 pounds in 4 weeks).

With the FitBit Flex ($99.99), for example, you can log into your “dashboard” on the app or Fitbit.com and set goals for steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled or active minutes. When you tap your Flex twice with your finger, the LED indicator lights will illuminate to show how much of your goal you’ve accomplished; each fully lit indicator represents 20 percent of your total goal. When you reach your goal, your Flex will vibrate and flash the LED indicator lights to celebrate.

As extra incentive, many activity trackers let you earn trophies, awards and other accolades that server as motivators. The Nike+ FuelBand SE ($99.99) uses a proprietary “gamification” measurement called NikeFuel, which awards points for achieving fitness milestones, which go toward badges.

The Basis app introduces Habit Cards – such as “wake up early” or “get up more during the day” – and not only displays your results but analyzes your performance and suggests small steps in your daily routine to encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Social if you want to be

Many of these fitness bands come with a social media element – an opt-in feature that lets you share your fitness progress with people on Facebook and Twitter, for example. Yes, you can have your milestones blasted out as a status update or tweet without you having to manually type in the info.

Of course, weight loss and fitness goals are a very private matter to some, so be sure not to sign in with your social media details on the activity tracker’s app or website if you want to be the only one with access to the info. Some, however, might find it motivating to share progress with select friends – so the option is there if you want it.

Speaking of an extra incentive, a couple of activity trackers, such as the Striiv-branded wearables (from $69.99), let you earn virtual gold to spend in a fantasy game.

Calorie intake

Finally, a few of the leading activity meters can help you manage what you eat too, usually via the companion app or website.

The FitBit products, for example, work with a few third-party apps, which can leverage the data collected by the activity tracker (fitbit.com/apps). One of the supported apps is “Lose It!” Instead of manually typing in your daily activities (with estimated calories burned), you can sync your FitBit to the Lose It! app to automatically import your exercise information. You will still need to manually type in what you’re eating during and in between meals, however.

Similarly, the Jawbone UP24 ($149.99) works with various apps that can help you track your food intake, monitor your weight, map your bike rides. With food consumption, you can select a picture from the UP gallery of food items, or snap your own; scan a barcode or type in to search a food database; or create your own items, entering how many calories, fats, proteins and carbohydrates you ate.