The streamlined, budget-friendly gadgets I use to stay motivated without the Peloton price tag

Now that the weather is warming up where I am, I am feeling that surge of motivation to get into gear. Suddenly, I have the energy to do some landscaping, clean my house, and make working out a more consistent habit.

That last one is where I struggle the most.

Somehow, I convince myself every year that if I spend good money on smart workout gear, I’ll be more motivated to do it.

And then I look at the price tag of these things.

The Peloton bike is on sale for $1,300, the Peloton treadmill is $2,700, and various other smart mirror brands are over $1,000 as well.

I just can’t stomach those prices. I still want to incorporate some smart workout tech into my life, but there’s gotta be a compromise.

Smartwatches are everywhere

I’m just looking for motivation, I don’t need the premium model

The first one is a no-brainer. Smartwatches have been around for a long time now. I feel like every time I people-watch in the city, I see more and more.

I thought to myself, “I could use something to count my steps and estimate calories burned during workouts.”

So I go down the research rabbit hole, and I am bombarded with choices. Discouragingly, everyone was recommending brands that start at around $300 and go up into the thousands.

I’m sure if you’re an avid runner or dedicated athlete, they’re worth the money.

But I’m just a casual user looking for some numbers to keep me motivated, so I went and bought a Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 for around $42.

I can’t say it’s the most accurate. But what I can say is that it has kept me motivated throughout the day and gives me a nice snapshot of how much I have moved.

Maybe if I really get into the exercise lifestyle more, I’ll upgrade to something nicer in the future.

For now, this is the right amount of functionality for a great price.

I don’t think I’d walk 500 miles, but I’m sure I could do at least 5

With Netflix on, time flies

Are you getting your 10,000 steps in? Okay, maybe not all 10,000 — it is based on an arbitrary Japanese pedometer concept from the 1960s after all (look it up, it’s true!)

Regardless, there’s a lot of research out there talking about the benefits of walking for people of all lifestyles. So how can I get more walking in?

The answer “just go for a walk outside” comes to mind. And I hear you, I do. But I also experience awful seasonal allergies, restrictive weather, and occasional health issues that make it worrisome to be away from home.

Buying a treadmill is the obvious answer, right? That’s what I thought, until I saw the price of a smart treadmill. Even the cheaper brands were over a thousand dollars.

So, here’s my compromise on price and functionality: a walking pad.

You might’ve seen them advertised as something to use under your standing work desk during the day, but I much prefer mine in the living room.

Instead of a smart treadmill with a screen, why not position your walking pad near your TV? I watched a whole comedy special while striding along, and it was so easy.

There are tons of walking pads out there at different price points, but for something with just a little incline and a walking speed, you can easily spend less than half the cost of a full smart treadmill.

Tracking your food shouldn’t detract from your grocery budget

Have you seen the price of tomatoes lately?

Health isn’t just about exercise, especially if you’re looking to lose weight and gain muscle. It’s probably no surprise to anyone that our diet plays a massive part in getting healthier.

I’m quite picky about my food, so pre-made meals and meal kits were out of the question. I just needed to get better at tracking everything.

The best bang for your buck you’ll get is a kitchen scale. You can weigh and portion your food with precision, which is a lot harder to do than I thought.

I didn’t research any smart options because I already owned a simple $15 digital scale. I can’t imagine it needs to do much more than give you a measurement. I like the ability to change my weight units. I don’t need much more than that.

While we are looking at weighing food, there are a ton of great apps available for inputting your food and exercise data.

You can easily get sucked into the many subscription models and premium features, but hold strong! If you’re just looking for an easy way to track things and feel better, plenty of apps like Cronometer and MyFitnessPal have barcode scanning, goal-setting, and custom food inputs all for free.

The spectrum of physical ability and motivation is wide

I don’t know your health and fitness journey, or your budget

I’m approaching this from the perspective of a casual user who doesn’t want to make a significant financial investment. I’m not very active in my daily life, but I want to make a positive change.

If you are an athlete, bodybuilder, or have a passion for fitness, these takes may not resonate with you, which I completely understand, and if I level up my fitness game to the point of needing more sophisticated tech, I’ll be sure to write about my suggestions!

Until then, I just don’t see the value.

You don’t need to spend a lot to reap the benefits

Whatever your reasons are for working on your health, now is a great time in tech to incorporate some enhancements into your routine.

The sticker shock can be intense when you see the branded gear popping up in your search history.

Don’t panic! There are tons of options and competition, and you can meet your goals without emptying out your bank account.

Display

1.6-inch AMOLED

Battery Life

Up to 13 days

Colors

Gray, Silver, Pink Gold

IP rating

IP68

Water Resistance

5ATM

The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is a great blend of budget and features. It’s stylish, has a great battery life, and provides simple fitness data through many popular apps. It’s a great smartwatch to keep you informed and motivated for under $50.