I recently started tracking my health and fitness again, beginning with the simplest metric: steps. I wanted to make sure I was hitting basic exercise goals first, and this was the simplest way to do that.
Tracking daily steps is incredibly easy. As long as I have my smartphone in my pocket, any fitness-tracking app on the Play Store can give me a reasonably accurate estimate of my steps. But there’s one I like best, and it beats Google Health.
Stride ended my guilty relationship with fitness apps
Motivational, but not annoying
It’s satisfying watching a number go up, but knowing it’s linked to better health is even better. I love trying out new step counter apps to see how they turn a basic number into something exciting.
However, they were invariably imperfect. Simple Step Tracker was the last one I used regularly, but after a few months it became forgettable.
I realized I needed my step tracker to nudge me once in a while. Not like Google Health (more on that later), but just a prompt to get me out of my chair when I’ve been sitting for hours.
Sure, I had step targets, but they weren’t enough. Simple Step Tracker did what I needed: it gave me a clear indication of my targets. I would open the app, immediately see how close I was, and keep going.
The problem was that I wasn’t opening the app enough. It became a source of guilt when I didn’t reach my target, not satisfaction. Eventually, it became easier to ignore.
Stride, on the other hand, is the perfect balance. It doesn’t bombard me with information, but it gently nudges me to move.
Stride keeps my step goals relevant
Stride has a built-in lock-screen notification and status bar that displays a live step counter. So when I pick up my phone, I see how close I am to hitting my step targets.
It’s subtly powerful. For example, when I’m at 900 steps, I’ll do a few laps around my apartment to hit 1,000. If I’m walking back and I’m at 9,000, I’ll take a slight detour to hit 10,000.
I use a similar technique for reading. Rather than telling myself to read a book every night, I tell myself to read a paragraph. Focusing on smaller, incremental goals helps me reach long-term goals.
In the evening, Stride sends me a notification if I haven’t reached my 8,000-step goal. It’s a handy tool, but I wish I could customize it.
Sometimes, Stride notifies me when I’ve already settled on the sofa with dinner and a movie. I wish I could set it to alert me when I leave work, because I would be much more inclined to target that goal.
Nevertheless, it’s a handy reminder that often helps me hit that final step goal.
Unlike Google Health, Stride doesn’t overwhelm me with information
It knows its place
Google Health offers more tracking features and analysis than Stride. So why don’t I use it?
The first reason is that I find Google Health’s AI reminders patronizing and irritating.
Perhaps it’s my inherent skepticism of AI, but when I receive a notification cheerfully recommending that I “try adding a quick 20-minute walk at lunch to build on my progress,” I want to throw my phone at a wall instead.
The second is that Google Health is overkill for step tracking. It tries to do too much for such a simple exercise. It’s built for a full fitness routine and health tracking, not for step goals.
Stride keeps things simple and to the point. It knows my goals and doesn’t waste time with unnecessary recommendations.
Every notification I receive from the app is along the lines of “Congratulations on hitting your goal” or “You won’t hit your goal unless you go for a walk.”
That’s the kind of feedback I want. Not the fake motivational mini-speeches Gemini gives me.
Google Health has a place, but not here
I think, despite its AI-heavy features, Google Health is a useful app. It’s packed with helpful fitness routines and detailed health metrics.
However, for people like me who are trying to start exercising again, an app like Stride is much better. While I don’t think I’ll use it forever, it’s been invaluable in helping me make that extra effort.
Stride is currently in closed beta testing, but you can download the app from its GitHub page.
