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Its not clear why some people on these drugs lose a lot of weight while others dont lose any. We still dont understand most of the variation in response, says Ewan Pearson, professor of diabetic medicine at the University of Dundee in Scotland. There are a few known predictors of how patients will fare, though. For instance, women tend to lose more weight than men on GLP-1 drugs, possibly because they have a different fat distribution compared to men, or because their smaller average size could mean higher exposure to the drug.

And while GLP-1 drugs were first approved as a diabetes treatment to improve blood sugar levels, theyre less likely to produce significant weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers have suggested genetics, altered microbiomes, and other medications that promote weight gain as possible reasons for this. A lot depends on a persons physiology and biology. We cant expect that a drug will be a one-size-fits-all for everyone, says Amy Rothberg, an endocrinologist at the University of Michigan.

GLP-1 drugs lead to weight loss by slowing the movement of food in the stomach and by interacting with receptors in the brain to promote a feeling of fullness. Some people taking them report less food noisethey no longer have cravings or think about food all the time. As a result, they eat less. Patients start on a low dose thats gradually increased each week. Schmidt says some people may not respond to the lower doses but do eventually see weight loss as the medication is ramped up.

Without lifestyle changes, these medications are likely to be less effective for weight loss. Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro and Zepbound, stress that the drugs are meant to be used alongside a healthy diet and exercise. In trials of semaglutide and tirzepatide, the medications were paired with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Clinical trials are often the best-case scenario when it comes to a drugs efficacy because they involve careful tracking of participants and many follow-up visits with providers. In real life, patients may not follow their weight-loss plan as diligently or see their doctor as regularly.

And while these drugs help curb appetite, they dont magically eliminate all temptations. After all, there is a major social component to eating food. We may eat because it looks good, tastes good, were in the company of others, or because its available, Rothberg says. A person who has those environmental pushes or stimuli competing with the drug wont lose as much weight as the person who doesnt have to deal with those factors, she argues.

Differences in metabolism, or how people break down food and convert it into energy, could also be at play. A persons age and hormone function, as well as the amount of physical activity they get, can have an effect on metabolism.

Researchers are also looking into whether genetic factors may explain some of the variability in response. In 2022, Pearson and his colleagues published a paper that identified a gene called ARRB1 that seems to be involved in glucose control. When they looked at genetic data from more than 4,500 adults, they found that people with certain variants in this gene have lower blood sugar levels while taking GLP-1 drugs.

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Not Everyone Loses Weight on Ozempic - WIRED

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LAZ ALONSO'S LOOK has changed throughout his time on Amazon Prime's

I was heavy on caloric surplus when I first started the show. Seasons one and two I wanted to look like the comic. Season three we shot during and after Covid and I went from looking like the comic to looking like the very inflated version of the comic, he says. Alonsos Achilles heel? Like most, food delivery apps.

The actor revealed he too fell victim to the power of the click of a button that unlocked a world of unhealthy food to his doorstep. It even lead him to find the best pizza and burger in Toronto, he says. As a result, the actor gained an extra 40 poundswhich he says he did not even notice until the show's promo posters came out.

When season four came around, he met with the show's writer, Eric Kripke. Kripke told Alonso that his character, Mothers Milk, will be going through a big transition. The actor used that as motivation to transform himself, too.

The actors typical day of eating while cutting weight usually consists of electrolytes in the morning accompanied with some sort of caffeinematcha being his personal favorite. His breakfast consists of egg whites with rice, which the actor claims is kind of like oatmeal.

With the exception of his a.m. pseudo-oatmeal, Alonso tries to stay away from carbs. His favorite snack when losing weight is nutsand he loves an almond butter or peanut butter. He's also found healthier replacements for his favorite foods, like ice cream. "I discovered some sugar free ice cream that makes me feel better about finishing up the whole pint," he says.

He admits that the diet is the hardest to maintain when it comes to being on a weight loss journey. As a self-proclaimed foodie, sacrificing some of his favorite foods in the name of health can be difficult, he says. Still, he does his best to be mindful and balanced.

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How The Boys Star Laz Alonso Lost 40 Pounds After Covid Weight Gain - Men's Health

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At ESSENCE Festival of Cultures Wellness House activation, pods are spread out throughout the space, filled with shades of purple and soft melon, to provide guests with expert insight into everything that will get them feeling their best and living their best lives. One topic that is covered is weight loss and nutrition. Over at The Weight It All booth, Kim Rose, RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist), was there first thing Friday morning, schooling festivalgoers on how to eat right to get some extra meat off of their bones. And by right, theres not one perfect plate of food, but rather, a practice people should follow when it comes to how they set up that plate.

If you want to do some type of beef, make sure that youre getting the lean kind. You still get the same flavor but less fat, Rose shares as an example. I tell people, its not about cutting out; its actually about what you can add in. Add fruit, add more vegetables, add more low-fat protein options instead of thinking that you cant enjoy the food that you love, your cultural food.

For those who might think fruit is not the best option due to their sugar makeup, Rose says its all about how much fruit youre consuming with your meals.

Fruits actually have fiber in them. They actually have vitamins in them. And youre right, they do have sugar in the form of carbohydrates. But let me tell you why thats important. The reason why fruits are really good is because fiber helps to break down our blood sugar. So no, its not going to cause your blood sugar to be really, really sky-high unless youre eating a whole bunch of fruit, she says. On top of that, the fiber also helps to moderate peoples weight. I know in our community, were always talking about weight loss, weight loss, weight loss, and it does help to moderate our weight. It also has vitamins and minerals.

Speaking of weight loss, Rose says its all about how you eat. Getting yourself on a specific schedule makes all the difference because eating all over the place certainly doesnt help.

Eat breakfast at a certain time. Eat lunch at a certain time. Eat your snack at a certain time and dinner at a certain time. The reason I say that is because a lot of us tend to graze throughout the day, and then we dont realize were just taking in a lot of calories, she says. Were just eating mindlessly. Its about mindful eating. Second thing is, make sure that half of your plate is some type of protein. The right amount of fiber is the way to go in order to lose weight.

When it comes to culturally beloved rice dishes, Rose says 1/4 cup is the sweet spot, instead of carelessly pouring it onto your plate.

When you have your plate in front of you, divide it in your minds eye, and one-fourth of that plate should be the portion of your rice, she says. One-fourth. I know people tell me, Kim, Im going to get hungry. Youre going to get hungry if you dont have enough fiber and you dont have protein. So what I like to tell people is if youre going to lose weight, you need to increase the fiber. You need to increase the protein.

In the effort to lose weight, its also important not to compare your journey, your progress, or your success to anyone elses. While those around us may shed pounds in what looks like the easiest and quickest manner, no one will have success, especially in the long term, without also regulating stress.

Everybodys body is different. Just because you may have seen a celebrity, you may have seen your friend, you may have seen someone at your church or wherever, lose weight and look good, everybodys body is different. So I want you to take your time on your journey, she says. Realize if you lose weight too quickly, you can gain it back too quickly. Healthy weight loss is one to two pounds a week. So definitely make sure that youre eating the healthy plate method.

And also realize food is not the end all, be all, Rose adds. If you are stressed out the wazoo, if you are not sleeping adequately at night, if you are not hydrating yourself during these hot summer months, your body can put on a little excess weight. So especially with sleep and stress, I tell people all the time, you can be vegetarian, but if youre not sleeping and youre not moderating your stress by going to a mental health counselor or finding an avenue to get all of that stress out, your body enters into a fight or flight response. Hormones are released that will keep that weight on you.

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Nutritionist: If Don't Improve Your Stress And Sleep, You Won't Lose Weight - Essence

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Plus-Sized Elf episode 1, titled The Elf of the Forest, was released at 1:30 am JST, on Sunday, July 7, 2024. The anime was anticipated to cater to a niche audience, and its adaptation surprised many. Despite the anticipation, the premiere failed to meet viewers' expectations. This was surprising, given the intriguing plot of the show, which revolves around an elf who needs to lose weight to return to her world.

Plus-Sized Elf is based on a Japanese manga series by Synecdoche. The series was initially published on the Comic Gum website of Wani Books. A sequel is being published in Akita Shoten's Dokodemo Young Champion magazine.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.

Plus-Sized Elf episode 1 focuses on Tomoatsu Naoe, an employee at Smiley BOAR Massage Relaxation Center. After finishing his days work, Naoe encounters a unique client named Elfuda, who is part of their Diet and Bodywork Therapy program.

Elfuda, with her emerald eyes and large ears, piques Naoe's curiosity. She expresses her concern about her weight gain and inability to return to her homeland, the Kafar forests, and needs Naoes help. As Naoe begins the therapy session, it is revealed that Elfuda is an elf.

Elfuda opens up about her journey from another dimension through a portal. The food in this world, particularly french fries, led her to overindulge and gain weight. But to return home, she needs to shed the extra pounds.

Under Naoe's supervision, Elfuda embarks on a weight loss journey. She is seen jogging, shadowboxing, and resisting the temptation of french fries and soda. Naoe reminds her of the importance of a calorie deficit, and Ino takes her to hot baths to boost metabolism.

After a month, Elfuda returns to her original shape and thanks Naoe before returning home. However, Naoe later finds her at a fast food joint, indulging in french fries. Elfuda justifies her actions, stating that she can always lose weight again if needed, allowing her to enjoy her favorite food.

The best thing about Plus-Sized Elf episode 1 is its unique premise, which keeps viewers interested throughout the episode. Unlike typical isekai anime where characters journey to another world, this series reverses the concept by bringing fantasy characters into our familiar world.

Due to stress, unhealthy habits, and poor food choices prevalent in this world, an elf who has entered this world and succumbed to the temptations is now facing the repercussions and desperately needs help to return.

Plus-Sized Elf episode 1 is relatively short, running for approximately 11 minutes which has likely contributed to its pacing. The animation quality is also decent, and because it is an ecchi anime, the animators have incorporated additional scenes and made certain moments even more explicit than in the manga.

Despite the efforts that went into the production, Plus-Sized Elf episode 1 begins to feel too long. Although it is still too early to say anything concretely, this feeling may stem from the overall superficiality of the episode's content.

Elfudas struggles are resolved with relative ease, only for the narrative to return to square one. It seems this will be a recurring theme as the story may not have a clear direction. This approach can be both advantageous and disadvantageous, depending on how it is executed in future episodes.

The creative team is making adjustments to the manga in an attempt to deliver the best possible adaptation. Whether these changes will ultimately be successful remains to be seen. It is worth noting that while some anime adaptations improve on the source material, others fail to capture the qualities that make the manga exceptional. So, in this case, the humor and the antics of the characters fail to elicit a good response.

In the end, there is still a lot to look forward to considering this is only the first episode of the series. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect is that there does not appear to be any explicit moral lesson in the first episode.

While an unhealthy lifestyle is not encouraged, the need to be in perfect shape is dismissed merely as a technical requirement for the elf to return home. However, if the rest of the elements in the anime do not improve, the viewing experience will be fairly drab.

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Plus-Sized Elf episode 1 review: A rather bland anime about weight loss that fails to hit the mark - Sportskeeda

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He found a way to Excel in his weight loss journey.

Michael Hicks, a senior editor at Android Central, is sharing the tech tools that have helped him go from 225 to 192 pounds in the last year.

I lost 30 pounds by walking an extra couple of miles per day, using tech like smart scales and smartwatches to track my activities and weight trends, focusing on common-sense portion control with food and drinks, and logging my progress in a Google Doc where I prioritize monthly goals over daily activity rings, Hicks wrote this week on androidcentral.com.

Hicks tipped the scales in his favor by weighing himself twice a week on Wednesday or Thursday and Saturday or Sunday.

He said the semiweekly frequency allowed him to track his body fat, muscle and hydration without getting too discouraged by natural fluctuations.

Weighing daily puts too much obsessive emphasis on everything you do in a given day, Hicks explained. But weighing once a week leaves you without context for whether that data is accurate or just a fluke.

Hicks said he uses Withings Body Smart ($99.95 on Amazon), a scale that has an eyes-closed feature that allows you to hide your measurements as you weigh in.

Three Withings products including the Body Smart one made The Posts list of the eight best smart scales.

Hicks said he packed on pounds despite running 674 miles in 2023. His first month of weight loss was last August, when he walked over 10,000 steps a day on average.

Daily walks carved out about 1.52 hours of my day for walking, showering, and filling up on water that might normally have been spent sitting and snacking, Hicks wrote for Android Central.

For people with a sedentary lifestyle and a lot of weight to carry, long walks are both a mental distraction from cravings and a low-impact physical activity, one that wont leave you too tired to exercise the next day, he added.

Hicks noted that hes only been averaging 7,829 daily steps since his weight loss journey began in July 2023.

Research is mixed on how many steps you need for optimal health. 10,000 steps about 5 miles a day has long been the gold standard, but studies have shown that far fewer steps can suffice.

No matter how far you walk, Hicks recommendswearing a Fitbit Charge 6 ($159.95 on Amazon), which connects to YouTube Music, Google Maps and Google Wallet and gives you a stress management and sleep score.

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Hicks says he tracks the miles he runs, walks or hikes, the exercises hes done and his progress on his other goals in a 2024 Resolutions Google document.

He finds the doc preferable to an app, which may languish if the user doesnt want to be admonished for playing hooky from workouts.

When I fell off my walking goals in February because of the cold, I consigned that lazy month to a single orange fail box and then rebounded, surpassing my goals in March, Hicks detailed. I never let a setback demoralize me enough to give up entirely because the Google Doc shows how many more chances I have to hit my goals this year.

Hicks said he also saw the pounds melt away by switching from high-calorie treats like crackers or chips to dense snacks like bagels or protein bars to feel fuller, cutting back on the number of days he drank alcohol and ordering less takeout.

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Writer who lost 30 pounds in a year reveals 3 keys to success - New York Post

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The February 27, 2023 issue of New York magazine is one whose cover I can still vividly recall. Bon Apptit, read a bold-typed white caption superimposed over an image of a fork stabbing the hollow plastic part of a syringe. Inside the issue was features writer Matthew Schneiers cover story on Ozempic, which featured a range of users least politically correct admissions about the various motives behind their use of a costly and side-effect-heavy drug that, as Schneier wrote, provided an effortless, near-instant fix. In Schneiers story, an actress on Ozempic testifies to surviving on one and a half meals a day, while another woman confesses shed maybe rather risk thyroid cancer than give up the injectable she now relies on to lose weight; if you live with an eating disorder like I do, or maybe even if you dont, its hard not to get triggered reading these pseudonymous interviewees casual admittances of everything theyre willing to give up in pursuit of thinness.

Heres what bothers me about the weight-loss-drug craze: If Ozempic had been approved by the FDA for bariatric use at any point in my teens or early 20s, when I was stuck in a punishing cycle of dieting and binge eating, Im confident that I would at least have tried to get my hands on it. Given the freedom with which the ZocDoc-sourced, mildly shady doctor I saw back then prescribed me Adderall I didnt really need, I probably would have succeeded, even during the periods where I weighed the least. Back then, I saw fat as the enemy, the villain waiting in the wings to condemn me to a life of insecurity and loneliness; if youd told me that there was a medication on the market that would simply zap my stubborn, persistent hunger, my oh-so-unsightly longing for food, I would have regarded it as a miracle cure for everything I perceived to be so very wrong with me, and I probably wouldnt have stopped until I found someone to provide me with it.

Making the move from objectively thin person terrified of fat to actually fat person living in the world hasnt always been easy; indeed, its necessitated years worth of therapy, endless searching for forms of exercise that would actually make me feel good in my body, enough cooking practice to begin to know how to nourish myself without the help of Postmates, andof courseboundless support from my friends and family, most of whom have been around to witness my growth and are always there to remind me of it when I wake up on a post-binge day and feel as rudderless and lost and failure-defined as I ever did.

The idea of trading everything Ive accumulated over the past few yearsmy fatness, yes, but also my taste for food, my interest in cooking, my ability to relish a good meal at least some of the timefor thinness now feels like the ultimate Faustian bargain, but I know that the Ozempic craze might have sucked me up into its wake if it had taken root even just a few years earlier, before Id had the benefit of enough time and regular therapy to begin to de-prioritize weight loss. I also know there are people for whom weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy provide a huge benefit, and I dont want to pass judgment on anyones health regimen or individual relationship with food, but I worry that drugs like these provide a quick fix to the messy and often lifelong problem of learning to live in a changeable and desirous human body. Where would I be now if Id gotten accustomed to spending $900 a monthessentially a second renton weight-loss drugs in 2017, instead of finding my way to food group and starting Abilify and moving to New York and reading Roxane Gay and initiating the process of learning to occupy space in my own body?

Its taken me years to be able to say this, but as I sound it out in my head, it feels true; I mostly like my hunger. Ive grown accustomed to it, and I learn its contours every day when I wake up and try to figure out whether cereal or a big, greasy breakfast burrito or a green juice or just coffee would feel best in my stomach. I try to take the advice I once got from writer and curve model Kendra Austin, who has written extensively about her own experiences living with disordered eating, to eat dessert every day; or, at least, to eat dessert whenever I want it, especially when Im feeling bad about the wanting itself. (When the old mental reflex to just stick some grapes in the freezer! or just pick up some Halo Top! goes off in my head, thats when I know I really need dessertas in, actual dessert, not diet ice cream that tastes like Splenda-sweetened snow.) I used to think of my hunger as something feral, out of controlan untamed animal who needed to be sedated as much as possible, lest it rise up and maul mebut now, Im trying to see it as more of a kindly invited guest, someone whose preferences and tastes I let guide me without overwhelming me entirely.

Continue reading here:
How I Made Peace With Hunger and Decided I'd (Probably) Never Go on Ozempic - Vogue

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Summary

Amy Slaton and Amanda Halterman shocked 1000-Lb Sisters fans with their recent weight loss progress in a TikTok video. Amy, who once weighed over 400 pounds and was morbidly obese, made a change in 2020. When she first appeared on the show, her goal was to lose weight and become a mother. Amy not only broke her unhealthy habits but also had a bariatric procedure, which helped her shed over 125 pounds. Meanwhile, Amanda, who didn't appear in the first three seasons of 1000-Lb Sisters, also embarked on her own weight loss journey and has lost over 300 pounds.

In 2024, Amy and Amanda are continuing to work hard towards their fitness goals. They still appear to be losing weight and improving themselves.

Recently, Amy and Amanda appeared in a TikTok video with their friend @Ollisha Davis. The 1000-Lb Sisters stars had a great time at an outdoor event. Amy looked slimmer in the video, with toned shoulders and a slender face.

She wore a black outfit with a galactic pattern matching her cosmic blue hair. Amanda also looked fantastic in her purple tank top. She wore no makeup, which highlighted her natural beauty and defined jawline.

Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

Amy and Amanda have each embarked on their own weight loss journeys. Amanda underwent her first weight loss surgery in 2014, but it was unsuccessful, leading to a revision surgery in 2023. Amanda also quit smoking and made adjustments to her diet, resulting in a loss of over 300 pounds over the past decade. In contrast, Amy has lost 125 pounds since her surgery in 2019, which was televised in 2020. Amy reached her weight loss goal by controlling her food intake and improving her diet. She looks fit despite giving birth to two children in the last four years.

Tammy Slaton

37 years old

Lost 440 pounds

Diet, exercise, weight-loss surgery

Amy Slaton

36 years old

Lost 125 pounds

Diet, exercise, weight-loss surgery

Chris Combs

44 years old

Lost 150 pounds

Diet, exercise, weight-loss surgery

Amanda Halterman

43 years old

Lost 300+ pounds

Had weight-loss surgery (twice)

Misty Slaton Wentworth

48 years old

Unknown

Had weight-loss surgery

The latest TikTok video shows that Amy and Amanda are still making fitness a priority in their lives. They have overcome many challenges related to their previous weight issues and are determined not to go back to that. Despite their differences, Amy and Amanda have always been very close and enjoy spending time together, which helps them stay active. In the past, the Slaton sisters led a sedentary lifestyle that affected their health. It's great that they have changed their lifestyles and become more activeover the last four years.

Like Amy and Amanda, Tammy Slaton is also slowly achieving her weight loss goals. She has lost over 440 pounds after transforming her body and improving her lifestyle. This change has also helped her make new friends and become more active. Amy's brother, Chris Combs, has also made a miraculous weight loss transformation, shedding weight and participating in activities like marathons. In 2024, the Slaton-Halterman family is the fittest they have ever been. Witnessing the 1000-Lb Sisters cast members achieve so many milestones in just a few years is truly inspiring.

1000-Lb Sisters seasons 1-5 can be streamed on MAX and Discovery Plus.

Source: @Ollisha Davis/TikTok

1000-lb Sisters follows sisters Amy Salton-Halterman and Tammy Slaton in their home in Dixon, Kentucky, covering their daily lives, weight loss attempts, and subsequent weight loss surgery. The show covers such moments as attempts to have children, medical visits, and dramatic emergency room visitations. The family wrestles with supporting their daughters and their weight loss efforts while struggling with their own life troubles.

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1000-Lb Sisters: Amy & Amanda Slaton's New TikTok Video Reveals Stunning Weight Loss Progress - Screen Rant

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President Biden and his senior team said they accepted Wednesday the grim ultimatum they have been hearing from almost all quarters of the Democratic Party this week: quickly demonstrate his fitness for office or face a significant effort to force him to step aside.

Growing concern from Capitol Hill, top donors and senior party strategists, including some of his own advisers, prompted Biden to start reaching out to allies in recent days to admit that he is in a tough moment and that he has to prove to voters he is up for the job, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

His critics have been shaken by his relative inaction over the previous six days to directly address the panic ignited by his halting debate performance. Starting Tuesday afternoon, he started calling top congressional leaders, scheduled a sit-down interview with ABC News and announced weekend campaign travel plans that will be closely scrutinized.

Even a spotless performance over the coming week may not save him if significant cracks appear in public and internal polling, said senior Democratic strategists, who, like many for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

Biden, 81, has appeared in public four times since a rally Friday in North Carolina for remarks on a Supreme Court decision, on extreme weather, at Stonewall National Monument in New York and at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Wednesday to speak for a total of 32 minutes, exclusively while using teleprompters. He also attended fundraisers and other weekend campaign events.

One senior campaign adviser called the situation a deafening silence from the top, reflecting the concerns of other advisers who described a failure of the president to publicly demonstrate his fitness for office as panic built inside the party. Other longtime Biden allies have described continued frustration about the political response and a growing conviction that a change needs to be made.

I think the onus is really on Biden right now to be very candid with all of us privately, not publicly, not that were going to tell reporters, but to be very candid with us privately about what happened, what is the larger issue? Can we get through this? said Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), reflecting the concern of others. We do need more than emails of polling briefs from White House legislative affairs directors right now to assuage those concerns.

Biden spent much of Wednesday trying to push back on the concern, addressing his campaign staff and doing interviews with Black radio stations ahead of a planned meeting with Democratic governors.

The past few days have been tough. Im sure youre getting a lot of calls, and Im sure many of you have questions as well, Biden told campaign staffers in a conference call, according to a person familiar with the remarks. Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can and as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running. Im the nominee of the Democratic Party. No ones pushing me out. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end, and were going to win because when Democrats unite, we always win.

Vice President Harris, who was also on the call, added: We will not back down. We will follow our presidents lead. We will fight, and we will win.

Later, in a briefing for reporters, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is absolutely not planning to drop out as the presidential nominee.

Even those who still argue Biden remains the best candidate admitted he lost ground in recent days, though hope remains that poll numbers will stabilize over the coming week. Some Democrats have begun openly considering the idea that Harris could replace Biden on the ticket to take on Republican Donald Trump in November.

There is significant erosion among elected [officials] and donors, said Dmitri Mehlhorn, a donor adviser working with outside groups to elect Biden. But the elected and the donors do not represent the substantial part of swing voters who are in the battleground states.

Bidens campaign team insisted on a June debate with Trump to address voter apathy and concerns about Bidens age. His stammering performance, instead, triggered alarm in the party and an increase in public concern about his competence, as measured by public polls.

Bidens private outreach to lawmakers has also been minimal since the debate, prompting leaders within the party to express their surprise to others. Biden waited until Tuesday to speak with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and until Wednesday morning to speak with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). His meeting Wednesday evening with Democratic governors was scheduled only after a request by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Several governors emerged describing it as an honest and open and candid assessment of the race. Biden reflected on the poor debate performance telling them that his mind was crammed with numbers and reiterated his plans to regain his footing.

When you love someone, you tell the truth, Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) said. We were honest about the concerns that we were hearing from people. And we were also honest about the fact that as the president continues to tell us and show us that he was all in. And we said that we would stand with him.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) added: Im here to tell you tonight, President Joe Biden is in it to win it. And all of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher.

Some House Democrats continued to debate among themselves Wednesday whether to call on Biden to step down, with drafts of a possible public letter circulating. Two Democratic members of Congress Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) publicly said Tuesday that Biden can no longer win, while Rep. Lloyd Doggett (Tex.) said Biden should be replaced as the partys presidential candidate. Rep. Ral Grijalva (D-Ariz.) called on Biden to step aside Wednesday.

On a text chain Wednesday morning, House members shared a new YouGov poll that showed Biden down two points to Trump. Another poll shared on the text chain showed that former first lady Michelle Obama would trounce Trump by 10 points.

The anxious lawmakers didnt put any stock in the numbers but marveled at how theres all this potential to defeat Trump and it also says how much its being held back by Biden, according to one lawmaker on the text chain.

Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), one of Bidens closest allies in the House, said Wednesday morning that he had not spoken with the president. A spokesperson said the two connected later in the day.

I think that the president should have a series of town-hall-type meetings, engaging with voters, with the media, Clyburn said. I think he should not have his reactions to questions from the voters through a filter. Let him give unfiltered responses to their questions, and let the media report on it.

Democrats involved in House and Senate races say much will depend on whether Bidens polling continues to slide in coming days, and how that impacts Democratic candidates. There are some signs Republicans are moving to capitalize on Bidens faltering debate performance. Arizonas Republican Senate candidate, Kari Lake, plans to air a statewide ad that hits Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego on Bidens decline, said one person familiar with the ad planning.

Both the campaign and the White House are hoping that events in the days after the Fourth of July holiday will reassure voters and party insiders. They point out that no senior Democrats have called on him to step down.

The initial damage control after Thursdays debate and the subsequent North Carolina rally was handled almost entirely by staff. Those private phone calls, video conferences and other presentations focused largely on other aspects of the campaign and offered no opportunity for questions or only screened questions. Top campaign staff have written multiple memos and emails to staff, donors and supporters asking for calm and redoubled work.

The president and his team have been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And you know what? That will continue, Jeff Zients, Bidens chief of staff, said on the White House call. The only way to get through it is as a team. He took no questions.

The encouraging talk about fundraising numbers and the grass-roots operation has failed to address the central concern that Biden himself is not up for the job, say several senior strategists who have decided in recent days that either Biden has to prove his ability or that Democrats need a new nominee. Allies have also pointed out that the focus on internal campaign polling and analytics showing a stable race, with Biden trailing Trump slightly has failed to address the question of how the debate performance affected Bidens ability to overtake Trump before the fall.

The argument by top Biden advisers has long been that enough voters will ultimately choose to oppose Trump, but that argument lacks a clear empirical basis beyond polls that show a majority of the country remains open to supporting Biden in theory, people familiar with the situation said. The campaign has also been hit by external polling that has shown a sharper drop from Bidens already poor standing in matchups with Trump and third-party candidates.

'The polling isnt changing is not a sufficient message, said one Democratic veteran of presidential efforts, who reflected the sentiment of several other strategists. The fundamental point is it is not about a single debate performance. It is about the shaky confidence that people had is now gone. And him giving two four-minute statements and reading a teleprompter at a rally and a fundraiser is not going to cut it.

The high-dollar donor community, meanwhile, has overwhelmingly turned against Biden, according to people familiar with the conversations. Whether that has a material effect on fundraising if Biden stays in the race is less clear. In multiple cases, donor advisers say, large donations to outside groups that were expected have been withheld since the debate.

Liberal donor networks like the Democracy Alliance, American Bridge and the Strategic Victory Fund have all held calls in recent days where donors have expressed concerns about moving forward, though none of the calls resulted in formal calls for Biden to leave the race. Officials at one independent group have begun to review polling to see how their planned advertising will fare if Biden is not the nominee.

Multiple donors have described the debate performance as reflecting elements of Bidens performance in smaller group settings at donor events in recent months, when he appeared halting and struggled to communicate. That recognition has fueled calls for him to step aside, according to people familiar with those conversations.

A business executive who helped arrange a fundraiser for the Chicago convention in the last year said the Biden team refused to let even major donors ask questions in a small group. That was shocking, this person said.

I told them my donors dont care about a photo. They want to talk to him. The Biden people just wouldnt let them, the person said. It was clear they were managing him in a way Ive never experienced before. Donors expect to get to talk to the president if youre writing a big check and having an event with him.

Multiple top party donors joined the chorus on Tuesday in phone conversations with Pelosi and Schumer to say that the current situation was not sustainable and a new nominee was needed, according to people familiar with the call. Spokespeople for Pelosi and Schumer declined to comment.

During a fundraiser in McLean on Tuesday night, he was in good spirits and spoke at a donor event without a teleprompter set up for the first time since the debate. He made light of his debate struggles I know I didnt have my best debate night and suggested it was a result of jet lag. Biden returned to the United States from meetings in Europe 12 days before the debate.

Biden touted strong campaign fundraising since the debate. So far, so good, he said.

Members of Bidens family have been firm in encouraging him to stay in the race, adamantly saying that he has a game plan and rebuffing suggestions that he would consider stepping aside, according to four people close to the family. The family is still all in, one of them said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Theyre still supportive.

They have acknowledged the tough debate and the tenuous moment, but they have said absent high-level defections like Pelosi or Schumer, or a significant drop in polling data, he will remain as the partys nominee. They also frequently point to others having often doubted him only for him to overcome expectations, a sentiment still coursing through many of the family members, the people said.

Josh Dawsey, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Liz Goodwin, Abigail Hauslohner, Paul Kane and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez contributed to this report.

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Biden faces growing political crisis over response to debate performance - The Washington Post

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Fitness trackers have come a long way from the simple bands that tracked steps and little else. Modern trackers can monitor everything from your heart health to how well youve recovered from a hard bout of training. Theyve got sensors galore and, in some cases, can give smartwatches a run for their money. Whatever your fitness goals are, theres probably a fitness tracker that can help you achieve them.

Compared to some other gadgets, wearables are incredibly personal, which means there are a few extra considerations youll have to take into account before reaching for your wallet. It makes it hard to say that any one fitness tracker is the best for everyone. Thankfully, the best thing about fitness trackers in 2024 is that theres enough variety to fit into every kind of lifestyle.

Right now, were heading into flagship launch season. Were expecting to see the latest Samsung Galaxy Watches this month, while Google announced a surprise Pixel event for August. September is also generally when we see the new Apple Watches and this year will be the 10th anniversary. If you have gadget FOMO, a little patience goes a long way this time of year. That said, if you need to replace a broken smartwatch or fitness tracker right now, summer sales like Amazon Prime Day are a good time to hunt for a deal.

Who is this fitness tracker for? The ideal fitness tracker for hardcore athletes will look different than the best one for casual users looking to get a few more steps in.

A fitness tracker should be able to go at least two to three days between charges. If its a flagship smartwatch, it should at least offer quick charging.

Is it a band or a smartwatch? Is it comfortable to wear 24/7?

What metrics does this device track? We prioritize active minutes over steps and calorie burn, but health metrics like resting heart rate, VO2 Max, and sleep quality are plusses.

Accuracy is nice, but its more important for measuring progress that your device delivers consistent results for heart rate, distance tracking, and steps.

Certain trackers are limited to specific phone ecosystems others will work regardless of what your phone is. We prioritize the latter wherever possible.

Size:46mm w/ 22mm straps /Weight:34g /Battery life:Up to 14 days /Display type:OLED touchscreen /GPS:Dual-frequency and six GNSS systems /Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:2.3GB

The Amazfit GTR 4 punches way above its weight. Its affordable at $199 and includes a whole array of features youd expect to see on much pricier wearables. That includes a bright OLED screen, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage tracking, stress tracking, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. Its also got a native camera remote and a handy Pomodoro timer built in. And for outdoor fitness enthusiasts, the GTR 4 also has multiband GPS for more accurate GPS tracking in challenging environments. You can even import GPX routes from sites like Strava and Komoot. The GTR 4 takes a more holistic approach to health, trading in steps for PAI points to gauge whether youre getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

For smart features, the GTR 4 has all the basics: push notifications, quick text replies on Android, alarms, timers, and the ability to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The only thing the GTR 4 is really missing is contactless payments, but it more than makes up for it, given the expansive feature set and battery life. It lasts about 1014 days on a single charge with normal use and about a week with heavy usage. It may not have the brand recognition of a Fitbit, but since Google nerfed both the Versa 4 and Sense 2 last year, you might want to overlook that. Plus, the GTR 4 doesnt have thick bezels like either of those watches. Watchfaces on the OLED display are crisp, and animations are smooth. When you consider that Amazfit watches are often on sale, its a no-brainer.

Sizes:40mm w/20mm straps /Weight:38g /Battery life:Up to 11 days /Display type:OLED touchscreen /GPS:All-systems GNSS /Connectivity:Bluetooth, Ant Plus /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:4GB (for Music Edition)

The $250 Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the watch I recommend for anyone looking to replace their aging Fitbit Versa 2 or 3. Its got a similar look and vibe, with a much nicer OLED display and longer battery life.

Garmin is known for its comprehensive fitness tracking, and thats not an exception here. Of course, you get the basics, like steps and calories burned, but you get a whole lot more, too. Theres built-in GPS for tracking walks, runs, and bike rides as well as plenty of other sports profiles like yoga and strength training. For smart features, you get push notifications, timers, contactless payments, and a bunch of safety features like Garmins Incident Detection, which is its take on fall detection. (You will need to carry your phone with you, however, as this doesnt have LTE.)

If you want the option of onboard music, you can shell out $50 extra for the Music Edition, which comes with enough storage for about 500 songs. I wouldnt recommend it, however, as youll most likely have your phone on you since this isnt a true standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, however, is its one that you can grow with. On top of recovery metrics and sleep tracking, it also has Garmin Coach a built-in, free training program for beginner and intermediate-level runners hoping to tackle a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. For health tracking, you can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen, intensity minutes (how many minutes of moderate exercise you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory rate, and menstrual cycles. And the best part is Garmin doesnt lock any of this behind a paywall.

One note: there is a Venu 3, which adds a newer heart rate sensor and nap detection. I liked it quite a bit, and it ticks off a lot of the right boxes except for price. Its $450, which puts it outside what Id consider ideal for casual users. The other option is Garmins Forerunner 165 its a $249 budget training watch thats quite similar to the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Basically, go with what you find on sale. I firmly believe older models are still a good choice if all you want is the fitness-tracking basics. This is especially true since newer software updates often make their way to older Garmins. Garmin users also tend to hang onto their device for a good while. Stravas 2023 year-end survey found that the most popular smartwatch among its users was an eight-year-old Garmin!

Sizes:7S Pro: 42mm w/20mm straps, 7: 47mm w/22mm straps, 7X: 51mm w/26mm straps /Weight:7S Pro: 63g (Solar), 58g or 65g (Sapphire Solar, titanium or stainless steel) 7: 79g (Solar), 73g (Sapphire Solar) 7X: 96g (Solar), 89g (Sapphire Solar) /Battery life: 7S: up to 11 days, 14 w/ Solar, 7: up to 18 days, 22 days w/ solar, 7X: up to 28 days, 37 w/solar /Display type:MIP touchscreen /GPS:All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS /Connectivity:Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi /Water resistance:10ATM /Music storage:Up to 32GB

Garmins flagship Fenix 7 series is no joke, and the Fenix 7 Pro lineup takes it up a notch. Its got built-in multiband GPS, solar charging on all models, the option of touchscreen or button navigation, topographical maps, and oodles upon oodles of data. Plus, every Fenix 7 Pro model has a hands-free LED flashlight, an upgraded heart rate sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel display thats slightly easier to read in low lighting.

Garmin wearables are also known for providing extensive, in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Pro lineup is no exception. You get excellent recovery metrics, as well as helpful training guides and coaching programs. The best part is Garmin doesnt charge extra for those features. Thats good news, as these are expensive watches.

I appreciate how quickly these Fenix 7 watches are able to pick up a GPS signal. Thats a must if youre training in the dead of winter. These watches can also take a beating. All models are built to military-grade standards and feature up to 10 ATM of water resistance. That means theyre more than capable of a dunk in the ocean.

Although the screen is brighter, MIP displays still arent my absolute favorite the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Pro are a lot easier on the eyes. Its admittedly tough to pick between the Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro, Epix 2, and Epix Pro lineups especially now that the Epix Pro also has great battery life, the LED flashlight, and now comes in multiple sizes. What it boils down to is whether you prioritize a brighter display, longer battery life, or price.

Personally, I prefer the Epix Pro for better readability, but the Fenix 7 Pro is the better choice if this is your first introduction to Garmins platform. Youll get better battery life, the same LED flashlight, all the same training features, and a lower starting price. (You can also check out our Garmin buying guide if youd like even more alternatives.)

That said, I still think the standard Fenix 7 lineup is a good choice especially if solar charging isnt all that appealing to you. Plus, many of the new features that launched with the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro have trickled down to the standard line via OTA updates. You can also save a couple hundred dollars this way if budget is your main concern. In general, the holiday season is right around the corner, so I recommend keeping your eyes peeled for deals as retailers try to get rid of old inventory.

Sizes:8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing kit needed /Weight:46g (depends on size) /Battery life:Up to 7 days /Display type:None /GPS:None /Connectivity:Bluetooth /Water resistance:Up to 328 feet /Music storage:None

The vast majority of fitness trackers are worn on the wrist, but the $299 Oura Ring isnt. The smart ring is a good option for people who are looking for something a little more discreet. Its also less distracting than some other wrist-based options, as it lacks a screen and doesnt forward push notifications.

While smaller than your average wearable, the Oura Ring still tracks a ton of metrics, including heart rate variability and body temperature. The third iteration of the device also introduces SpO2 sensors, as well as all-day heart rate monitoring and period predictions. Since launching, the Oura Ring has also added activity tracking, blood oxygen levels, chronotypes to help visualize your circadian rhythms, and a new social feature called Circles. Its also begun rolling out a whole new sleep stages algorithm that it claims is more accurate than before. If youre looking for some stress relief, the Oura Ring also lets you track guided meditation sessions.

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics such as steps and calories burned but its main focus is sleep and recovery. Each day, youre given three sets of scores for your readiness, sleep, and activity. Its a simple, holistic look at your overall wellness and an ideal pick if you want a more hands-off experience with your data.

That said, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of the smart ring. Samsung just confirmed its working on a Galaxy Ring thats launching this month. The Evie Ring is another decent smart ring that caters to women with a simpler feature set but a clever design. Im also currently testing alternatives from Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Circular. So far, Oura remains the most full-featured of the bunch, but well have to see how this space settles over the next few months.

Size:42mm x 24mm x 12.2mm with 16mm straps /Weight:28g /Battery life:Up to 18 days /Display type:OLED /GPS:Tethered /Connectivity:Bluetooth /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:None

Its truly hard to beat the Amazfit Band 7s $49.99 price doubly so since you can often find it on sale for even less. Wearing the Band 7 feels like a throwback to 2014, which is great if all youre looking for is a simple and casual tracker that wont break the bank.

No one is going to compliment you on the Band 7s design, but its got a handful of cute watchfaces that make good use of its OLED touchscreen. And despite having an OLED display, youll still get roughly 14 days of battery life on a single charge. Its also incredibly lightweight, making it a good option for sleep tracking as well.

You also get an absurd number of features for the price. That includes Amazon Alexa, continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, advanced sleep tracking, training metrics like VO2 max and load, abnormal heart rate alerts, menstrual tracking, push notifications, find my phone, a camera remote, and even a Pomodoro timer. Youre sacrificing contactless payments and will have to settle for tethered GPS, but this is a fair tradeoff considering everything else youre getting. Its not the best option for hardcore fitness tracking, but this is a great option if all youre looking to do is casually track activity and your steps.

Amazfits been making surprisingly good budget trackers for a while. That said, if youre a little wary of a lesser-known brand, the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 is a decent alternative. Its pricier, but you get a lot of what Amazfit is missing. That includes Google services like YouTube Music, Google Wallet, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the ability to broadcast your heart rate with some Bluetooth-compatible gym equipment.

Sizes:37mm with 18mm straps /Weight:45g /Battery life:Up to 39 days /Display type: OLED display /GPS:Tethered GPS /Connectivity:Bluetooth /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:N/A

The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Light is a fetching hybrid analog smartwatch. Think of it as a dressier fitness band with some Swatch-like design sensibilities. Its got all your basics like simple push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you can track steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS activities straight from the wrist. It looks spiffy on the wrist, and if you like a pop of color, Withings offers minty green and pale blue color options. Its also got excellent battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single charge. I got a little less in testing at around 25 days, but thats still much better than the vast majority of flagship smartwatches. This also looks way more stylish than beefier multisport watches with similar battery life.

Like its name suggests, the Light is a pared-down version of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The main things youre missing are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen tracking, and an altimeter for tracking elevation. For basic fitness tracking, you dont really need those sensors. Thats why I think the extra $100 in savings is worth it for the Light, especially since both are lacking in safety features, contactless payments, and some other bells and whistles you can get from other watches in the $350 price range. That said, if you want extras, the ScanWatch 2 also gets you a slightly more elegant look thanks to the second step-counter dial.

Another option I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which actually dominated this category the past few years. Its hard to beat the price, especially since it gets you access to Garmins platform. However, Garmins hidden OLED display can get washed out in bright lighting, and battery life was significantly shorter than other hybrid analog watches at around five days. Still, if youd rather a platform with a focus on fitness rather than wellness, the Vivomove Sport may be the better move over a Withings watch.

Sizes:41mm, 45mm /Weight:32g (41mm), 39g (45mm) /Battery life:Up to 18 hours /Display type:Always-on LTPO OLED /GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou/Connectivity:LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi /Water resistance:Up to 50 meters /Music storage:32GB

If youre looking for a smartwatch that does fitness well, then iPhone owners need to look no further than the $399 Apple Watch Series 9. (The LTE version costs $50 more.) This years updates were pretty iterative, but the updated S9 processor makes this the smartest fitness tracker around for Apple users.

With watchOS 9, Apple added advanced running metrics and the ability to create custom workouts. This years watchOS 10 update adds greater integration with cycling accessories, as well as custom workout plans within Fitness Plus. Hikers also get better maps and directions on the wrist. Otherwise, the watch is incredibly similar to last years Series 8. Thats fine! Not only could you save a bit of extra dough by opting for an older model, but youre still getting the vast majority of the features that matter. Exclusive to the Series 9 are the forthcoming double-tap gesture, brighter screens, and offline Siri capability but these are fairly minor if your real focus is fitness. But if you want to use Siri to interact with your health and fitness stats, thats also a Series 9 exclusive.

Of course, we also have to address the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Series 9 sold by Apple (and eventually, third-party retailers) will have the blood oxygen feature disabled due to an ongoing patent battle with medical device maker Masimo. This isnt a huge deal for most people, as this feature isnt that useful for most people yet. You might want to consider a refurbished Series 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is important to you, however.

If youre a first-time buyer, you can also opt for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. Its slightly cheaper at $249, and while you dont get as many features, its a good introduction to the ecosystem. Otherwise, if youre the type of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may also want to consider splurging on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Its more expensive at $799, but it does have the brightest screen of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and hiking safety features, and is made of more durable materials.

Sizes:40mm, 44mm /Weight:28.7g (40mm), 33.3g (44mm) /Battery life:Up to 30 hours with AOD, 40 hours without AOD /Display type: Always-on OLED /GPS: Built-in GPS/Connectivity:LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi /Water resistance:Up to 50 meters, IP68 /Music storage:16GB

If you have a Samsung phone, this is the best full-featured smartwatch for fitness tracking. It (and the Watch 6 Classic) are the first watches to get Wear OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch, which adds a bunch of health and sleep tracking improvements like temperature-based cycle tracking, personalized heart rate zones, and custom workouts. It also has the same 3-in-1 sensor, which enables body composition analysis.Thats a unique feature that no other smartwatch at the moment is capable of. You can also access workout videos from the Samsung Health app though the production values arent as good as Fitness Plus or Peloton.

While I prefer the Classic overall (I mean, rotating bezel!), the base Watch 6 model is our pick for general fitness tracking due to its lighter weight and smaller size. Overall, its less distracting during workouts and more comfortable for sleep tracking. That said, the Classic is a very capable tracker, even if its aesthetic and larger size lend it toward being a better smartwatch. However, if you want a more rugged fitness watch with truly multiday battery life, you might be better off with the $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The Pro is also getting some new software updates in One UI 5 Watch, including turn-by-turn navigation for running and walking.

The big thing with the Galaxy Watch 6 series is that battery life has improved over last year. In my testing, I was able to last an entire day without worrying about battery under various scenarios. For example, on outdoor GPS runs with the always-on display enabled, I only saw a battery drain of 34 percent per mile. Fast charging enables you to get eight hours of battery life on a single charge, and the improved bedtime mode mitigates overnight battery drain to 1015 percent even if you turn on continuous SpO2 sensing, snore detection, and skin temperature tracking.

While Wear OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch look, feel, and function similar to Wear OS 3 / One UI Watch 4.5, you now get cloud backups. Google has also continued to expand third-party app offerings, so there are more choices than ever. However, some features are limited to Samsung owners, making it hard to wholeheartedly recommend this to non-Samsung Android users.

Right now is a good time to find the Galaxy Watch 6 series, particularly the base models, on sale. Were expecting Samsung to release the Galaxy Watch 7 at its Unpacked event, alongside a rumored new Galaxy Watch Ultra. If you already know youd rather prioritize savings, keep an eye out for sales on the Galaxy Watch 6 devices as retailers look to clear out inventory. Otherwise, you may want to hold off if the idea of an Ultra or longer battery life appeals to you.

Sizes:41mm /Weight:31g /Battery life:Up to 24 hours /Display type: Always-on OLED /GPS: Built-in GPS/Connectivity:LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:32GB

Last year, the Google Pixel Watch shifted the playing field for Android smartwatches. Now, the Pixel Watch 2 is here, and while it looks the same as its predecessor, its a significant improvement over last year.

Under the hood, you get a newer processor, Wear OS 4, and a new multipath sensor. What this translates to is much faster charging, zippier performance, and battery life that actually lasts 24 hours with the always-on display. On the health front, you have more accurate heart rate tracking, automatic workout tracking, and the Fitbit Sense 2s continuous electrodermal activity sensor for stress tracking. Plus, there are new personal safety features: Safety Check and Safety Signal. The former is a proactive timer that alerts emergency contacts to your location while the latter allows you to use emergency features even if you dont have an active LTE plan, provided you have a Fitbit Premium subscription. (Note: you still need the LTE version of the watch for Safety Signal to work.)

These are the main updates, but there are also a bunch of tiny fixes and updates here and there that address many of the quirks with the first-gen watch. That said, we still have concerns in terms of durability, repairability, and size. The Verge staff has cracked and scratched our devices, and Google doesnt offer any repair options just the Preferred Care extended warranty. (And even then, this is a new addition with the Pixel Watch 2 thats limited to the US and Canada.) And while the 41mm size is fetching on petite wrists, it may appear too dainty for people with larger wrists.

But if youre looking for alternatives to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a strong alternative. Youre giving up LTE, but its a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly long battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Sizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm /Weight:18g /Battery life:45 days /Display type: None /GPS: None/Connectivity:Bluetooth /Water resistance:Up to 10 meters /Music storage:None

The Whoop 4.0 is not for the casual enthusiast. Not only does it come with an expensive monthly subscription, but the information it provides is only useful if youre actively training for a cardio-intensive sport. If strength training is your main form of exercise, youre better off looking elsewhere. Like the Oura Ring, this is a distraction-free tracker that specializes in sleep and recovery. The main difference is this has a more athletic bent. For instance, youll get way more insight into how much strain youve taken on in the past week.

Whoop also provides a lot of novel ways to wear its tracker, including in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an appealing option if youre one of those unicorns who needs a secondary tracker to supplement another form of fitness tracking. Again, this is a tracker best appreciated by people who go hard and arent afraid to experiment.Plus, Whoop recently lowered its subscription prices in certain tiers, so while its still expensive, its not quite as pricey as it used to be.

Update July 1st, 1:38PM ET: Updated buying advice for summer season, added information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Ring. Added Garmin Forerunner 165 as an alternative for casual users. Added OnePlus Watch 2 as an alternative for Android smartwatch.

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The 10 best fitness trackers in 2024 - The Verge

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Getting fit doesn't have to cost a fortune. The best cheap fitness trackers can help you get in shape for $100 or less and monitor heart rate, physical activity and sleep quality. We tested popular options from big-name brands like Fitbit and Garmin, and smaller budget-minded ones, like Wyze, to identify the best values.

Many of the best cheap trackers including the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Garmin Forerunner 55, our top pick have companion apps for diving deep into metrics. Plus, the best affordable models are smaller and lighter than more advanced trackers and are ideal for casual users wishing to keep tabs on things like step counts, minutes active, workout routines, restfulness and the like.

To make our selection, we put the best cheap fitness trackers to the test by running, cycling, swimming, working out and sleeping with them on our wrists. While assessing, we looked at how easy they are to operate, how comfortable and stylish they are to wear, and how well they monitor movement. Read on to see our top picks for the best cheap fitness trackers in 2024.

Heres the best cheap fitness trackers you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. Scroll on for our full in-depth analysis of each.

Best overall

Best overall

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is an attractive and petite budget-friendly tracker. For $100, youre getting ten days of battery life, a colorful band, a bright screen, and heart rate and sleep monitoring.

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Best GPS

Best with GPS

The Fitbit Charge 6 ticks all of the boxes when it comes to affordability though it does tend to be $50 more than the Inspire 3 including built-in GPS, a bright screen and plenty of fitness tracking metrics.

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Best Garmin

Best Garmin

Without onboard GPS, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 falls short compared to the Fitbit Charge 6. That said, it gives you all your fitness data for free and is an excellent sleep tracker.

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Best subscription

Best subscription

It's not for everyone there's no screen, and no built-in GPS. That said, if you're hoping to gain real insight into your heart rate and recovery data, the Whoop 4.0 ticks the right boxes.

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Best Alexa

Best with Alexa built-in

This tracker puts Alexa on your wrist for around $50, plus it has a week-long battery life and connects to the companys other devices. That said, The Wyze Band probably isnt one for serious fitness fanatics.

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Best running

Best for runners

If youre serious about tracking your training, spend a little more and get the Garmin Forerunner 55. It offers accurate GPS location tracking and a healthy serving of sleep, workout and recovery tools.

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The best cheap fitness tracker

Size: 1.5 x 0.7 x 0.5 inches

Weight: 0.62 ounces

Display: 0.7-inch AMOLED

Water resistance: 50 meters

Heart rate monitor: Yes

GPS: No

Sleep tracking: Yes

Smartphone notifications: Yes

Battery life: 10 days

Bright AMOLED screen

Lightweight

Excellent battery life

6 months of Fitbit Premium included

Small screen wont be for everyone

No on-board GPS

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best cheap fitness tracker because it nails the basics: heart rate monitoring, accurate workout tracking and logging sleep stages. The fact that it doesn't have a built-in GPS is slightly disappointing. On the other hand, battery life is excellent.

For $100 or less, you'll get Fitbit's Active Zone Minutes metric, 10 days of battery life, touch controls, and, in the biggest update from the Fitbit Inspire 2, a bright, beautiful AMOLED screen. The Fitbit unit itself is only available in black but is sold in three different band colors black, lilac, and morning glow. The wristband comes in two sizes: small, and large.

During testing, we loved how comfortable and easy-wearing this diminutive tracker was, even at night. We also appreciated how much more premium the tracker felt with a color screen. It won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for an affordable fitness tracker, you can't go wrong with the Inspire 3.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review here.

The cheap fitness tracker with built-in GPS

Size: 1.4 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches

Weight: 1.3 ounce

Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED

Water resistance: 50 meters

Heart rate monitor: Yes

GPS: Yes

Sleep tracking: Yes

Smartphone notifications: Yes

Battery life: 7 days

Support for Google Maps, Youtube Music and Google Wallet

Light, slim and comfortable design

Accurate heart rate sensor

Bright, crisp touchscreen

No support for Spotify

Some limitations in sports modes

Although it's Google's flagship fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a fairly affordable device, not to mention, easy-wearing. Plus, it boasts several exciting updates compared to the Fitbit Charge 5, including the return of haptic side buttons, which make the 6 far easier to navigate. It can also now be used as a heart rate tracker on NordicTrack, Peleton and other exercise machines.

The Charge 6 isn't only about fitness though. Unlike the Inspire 3, it offers support for Google Maps, YouTube Music and Google Wallet, though you will need a Google account to use any of the above.

In addition to access to useful Google apps, the Charge 6 also features an onboard GPS. This makes it heavier than its more affordable sibling, the Inspire 3, but it still doesn't weigh much. More importantly, the built-in GPS lets you accurately track runs, hikes, bike rides and more, without the need to carry a paired smartphone.

During testing, we were impressed by how comfortable the Charge 6 is around the wrist and how easy it is to read in the bright sunlight. The screen is a bit larger than that found on the Inspire 3 though nowhere near as large as those found on the latest Apple Watches.

Ultimately, if you want a petite and capable fitness tracker with some useful smartwatch features and are okay with breaking the $100 price barrier, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a total home run.

Read our Fitbit Charge 6 review here.

This best cheap Garmin tracker

Size: 0.8 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches (small), 0.8 x 0.4 x 10 inches (large)

Weight: 0.9 ounces

Display: 0.8-inch OLED (B&W)

Water resistance: 50 meters

Heart rate monitor: Yes

GPS: No

Sleep tracking: Yes

Smartphone notifications: No

Battery life: 7 days

Good sleep tracking

Lightweight design

Comprehensive companion app

No built-in GPS

A little fiddly to use

It's not just huge adventure watches that Garmin make, they also have smaller fitness trackers, that won't cost the earth. The best of these is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 a little tracker, that does a lot more than just counting your steps.

The Vivosmart 5 has a monochrome OLED display, that is 66% larger than the display on its predecessor. This does make it easier to read messages on the watch, and unlike the Vivosmart 4, text can now scroll across the screen, which prevents messages from being cut off. Additionally, you can see at least three stats on the screen at one time.

The Vivosmart 5 gives you GPS tracking through your phone, blood oxygen monitoring, and continuous heart rate monitoring.Like a lot of the otherbest Garmin watches, the Vivosmart 5 is pretty good on a sleep-tracking front. Its lightweight and comfortable enough to wear when youre sleeping (compared to theGarmin Fenix 7, its quite literally, a dream), and gives you a good picture of your sleep patterns. Like a lot of the more premium Garmin watches, the watch will also give you a body battery score when you wake up, which takes into account your previous days activity levels, and your sleep quality.

The body battery tool is similar to Fitbits daily readiness score, but Garmin has one huge benefit over Fitbit in this category unlike Fitbit, it doesnt put its premium tracking features behind a paywall. All of Garmins data is free of charge and available in the Garmin Connect App, which is intuitive and easy to use.

Read our full Garmin Vivosmart 5 review.

The best fitness tracker subscription

Size: 1.5 inches x 1 inch x 0.5 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Display: n/a

Water resistance : 10 meters

Heart rate monitor: Yes

Excerpt from:
Best cheap fitness trackers of 2024 - Tom's Guide

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