Yahoo Lifestyle 
10 of the best fitness watches to motivate you to get moving
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When it comes to motivating us to move and stay up to date with our health and wellbeing, smartwatches have certainly become a staple for many people.
Working from home over the past few years you probably found yourself barely moving from your desk, couch - or even bed - until your trusty companion buzzed to let you know you should at least do a lap of your loungeroom.
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"One of the best ways that wearables allow users to keep motivated is by keeping them accountable," FitBit Psychologist and Therapist Leanne Hall tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
"Not only do they provide us with helpful reminders to keep us on track, but other metrics also provide data to show where we’ve made progress across all aspects of our wellbeing.
"You can also tailor your goals, rather than taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach to wellness. It’s like having a virtual personal trainer or coach with you every day."
Leanne says smart watches became particularly popular during lockdowns when people lacked ‘face-to-face’ supports.
"Having set reminders to keep moving and practise things like mindfulness also help provide some structure and contribute to a sense of achievement," she said.
"Both of these things are critical in helping to maintain mental and physical health."
We've rounded up some of our favourite new smart watches:
Fitbit Charge 5, $265
This watch is great for the gym.
It has a GPS so you can track walks, runs and bike rides, and dedicated tracking for a range of activities, from weightlifting to aerobics.
It has an ECG app, so you can monitor for heart issues, and an electrodermal activity sensor which tracks changes in your skin caused by stress.
A great all-rounder that looks good too.
Samsung Galaxy Watch S4, from $399
The newest Samsung Galaxy watch has some of the most advanced features to track your health.
The watch's BioActive Sensor is a 3-in-1 sensor that uses a single chip to run three powerful health sensors - Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis - so users can monitor their heart rate, blood oxygen level, and, for the first time, calculate their body composition.
Samsung has also reimagined the operating system and user experience, built jointly with Google.
Users tap into an expansive ecosystem including Samsung Pay as well as popular Google services and third-party apps.
Amazfit Bip S Smart Watch, $104.70
This looks like the Apple watch - but is a lot cheaper.
It's lightweight and has a strong battery life.
It has a GPS, heart rate tracker, multi-sport tracking, sleep tracking, and estimated VO2 max so you can keep tabs on your fitness over time.
Huawei Band 3 Pro, $239
This is a good option if you want to track lots of outdoor activities.
It's water resistant with a dedicated swimming mode, has a heart rate monitor, allows you to check your workout stats easily and gives accurate results.
It also has a GPS that works well in built-up areas.
Apple Watch SE, $429
The Apple SE measures your heartrate, has advanced sensors to track all the ways you move, measures your favourite workouts, and works brilliantly in the water too.
A great option if you don't want to get too technical.
Suunto 9 Peak - from $999.99
The Suunto 9 Peak is designed for adventurers, hikers and peak experiences and has a new sleek form.
Tested in the harshest conditions, it boasts up to 170 hours of GPS recording capacity in Tour mode, blood oxygen measurement and a full battery charge in one hour.
It is built to match users’ high expectations for a wearable training tool and adventure partner.
It also had the longest overall battery life of almost any watch out there.
Fitbit Luxe, $199
This has excellent health monitors, including tracking everyday activity, sleep, heart rate, respiration and workouts.
It also looks great, is comfy to wear and comes either with a soft silicone band or a stainless steel bracelet.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6, $72.99
This band monitors steps, heart rate, and workouts, as well as tracking blood oxygen saturation, plus all-day stress tracking.
The display is easy to read, and it's super lightweight to wear.
Honor Band 6, $89.99
Great value, this is one of the best watches out there for sleep tracking.
It monitors your sleep through the night, but also gives you practical advice on how to maximise your rest, as well as monitoring your health and wellbeing.
It also has dedicated workout modes for walking, running, cycling, cross-training, rowing, and swimming.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Watch, $289
This watch is excellent if you're into running.
You can share your location and it includes "incident detection" so you can train safely without your phone.
It also has a race predictor which allows you to gauge your energy reserves, showing you that you can push harder or rest.
It allows you to keep up to 500 songs on it, and also monitors your recent exercise to let you know if you're training productively.
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