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Pixel Watch 5's strength training feature could replace my top lifting app - no phone needed
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I've been strength training for over a year, and while I can confidently navigate the exercise equipment and heavy weights at my gym now, that wasn't always the case. When I started my weight-training journey, I was a complete novice.
At the time, I did my own research to find a strength training app that could take my beginner status and feeble frame into account, track my reps, create exercise routines for upper body, lower body, and full body days, and encourage consistency through clear progress documentation. That ended up being Fitbod, an app I still use to this very day.
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Fitbod gave me consistent strength-training exercises that helped me make progress week over week. It made core strength-training exercises, like bench presses and squats, regular parts of each workout while incorporating some peripheral, nice-to-have exercises. The app helped me learn how to do so many new exercises that target different muscles. That not only allowed me to familiarize myself with the proper form for each exercise, but it also encouraged me to explore the machines and equipment in my gym, while building strength through a consistent routine.
The app has a tab where I can see my overall strength through push, pull, and leg exercises, and I can review past workouts through the log tab. Fitbod builds rest time into each set: once I'm done with my first round of bench presses, I hit the "rest" button and a timer counts down to my next set. It's an essential app for beginners and advanced weight trainers alike.
I haven't found many Fitbod alternatives built into mainstream smartwatches. While I can record a strength training workout through the Fitness app on my Apple Watch Series 11, it simply records my heart rate, calories burned, and duration. It doesn't give me a collection of strength training exercises or help me along my workout. The same goes for the Samsung Galaxy Watch series.
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The Pixel Watch 5 arrives with more ways to strength-train, and this new feature is the one I look forward to testing most once I get my hands on the smartwatch.
For a while now, Fitbit and Pixel users have been able to create their own strength-training workouts through the Google Health app, which has hundreds of exercises and pre- and post-workout stretches. With a Google Health Premium subscription, you can even take a photo of your workout equipment and ask Gemini to build you a quick workout routine that suits your strength level and needs.