This is an open ended question. How do you create continuity in how you visualize your fitness journey across devices/platforms?
For example, I have data from my Amazfit, Zepp, Google Fitness days, I currently use a Garmin 530 while cycling and a Fenix 6 Pro Solar for everything else. With Garmin+ hinting at bad things to come and the high prices of Garmin watches I'm considering a possible Polar or a Suunto next. How do you visualize your trends over time?
- do you feed your stats into a spreadsheet?
- Do you use a quantified self app like Exist that pulls data from multiple sources
Another concern of mine is winding up split between ecosystems like if I bought a Suunto watch and eventually replaced my Garmin Edge 530 with a Wahoo device.
I can't pretend that Garmin does this especially well, even when my current devices are all Garmin, but I know my watch measures recovery and readiness after the rides I do on my edge, so I'm never in the dark as to where I stand on my recovery. Using a device only for workouts seems like it would be problematic as fitness isn't just movement, but also how you eat, sleep, etc.
I'm also untangling myself from Strava. I already got a few good suggestions to replace the features I will miss most, like the personal heatmaps. There's something super motivating about watching my ride footprint expand to cover large sections of my city as my fitness grows and I get more and more rides under my belt. I also like the fitness and freshness chart they do. I have a few years of summer peaks and winter lows that provide a nice backdrop to the current year's training.
The last straw for me was how close they've become to google. If I'm paying to use a platform, especially if I'm paying a decent sized chunk of change, I don't want them to also sell my data.
The new normal (double dipping / selling your data). I wasn't massively invested in Strava so I just left/deleted my account. Added more connections to Garmin and use the feed for social interaction (which I don't do a ton)