{"id":1250,"date":"2023-09-26T07:31:48","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T07:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/?p=1250"},"modified":"2023-12-06T07:53:21","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T07:53:21","slug":"wearing-a-whoop-changed-my-view-on-health-in-6-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wearing-a-whoop-changed-my-view-on-health-in-6-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Wearing a WHOOP Changed My View on Health in 6 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve been wearing a WHOOP band for 6 months now. I’ve recorded every night of sleep, every workout and almost every minute of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHOOP is a relatively young company, yet it has shot up to dominate the fitness tracker market. It\u2019s done that from its belief in having Heart Rate Variability (HRV) front and centre. More importantly coupled with high quality data insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is it worth the hype? Is it worth the hefty monthly subscription? (starting at \u00a316\/month for 2 year plan)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it is, but it depends who you are. I\u2019ll explain who it\u2019s aimed at, what it\u2019s good at and what it\u2019s not so good at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

top things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • wireless battery pack charger<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • daily journal + habit impact insights<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • helps narrow focus to vital metrics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • reinforces good habits<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • informed sleep need, based on strain and sleep debt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • the-no-need-to-take-it-off charger<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    worst things<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • inaccurate HR during running, leading to inaccurate strain data, then silly sleep need<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • unhealthy obsession with HRV<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • ruins my mental state before a session if it says I have low recovery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • the strain of lifting is inaccurate (even with strength trainer)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • the subscription model ain\u2019t cheap (but the band is ‘free’)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      how does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      WHOOP works on a subscription model. You pay a monthly fee and in return you get a WHOOP band and the fancy analytics in app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The comfy knitted wrist band records all your vitals and feeds them into the app. This feeds back on your sleep, strain and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You never have to take it off because of the nifty charging system (explained in a bit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Unlike some fitness trackers, it doesn\u2019t prescribe workouts and programs. You do the work and the general living, and WHOOP gives its data-driven view on sleep, strain and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Strain is WHOOP\u2019s main currency of cardiovascular and muscular exertion. The muscular bit of the equation takes in data from the new strength trainer feature (i\u2019ll be honest, I haven\u2019t used much). It then puts it into the same currency as cardio – a revelation for you hybrid athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      is it for me?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Who WHOOP is aiming at and who WHOOP is ACTUALLY useful to, are two different answers. WHOOP will say it\u2019s aimed at anyone who wants to \u201cunlock their potential\u201d… Yet, WHOOP is overkill for most of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      WHOOP is useful to one of two groups: endurance-heavy<\/strong> athletes and biohackers. Let me explain\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In a nutshell, balancing loads of running with a bit of strength work, ON TOP OF a busy life is hard. It\u2019s a fine balancing act that requires you to stay on top of how hard you workout, how much you sleep and what things help you recover. WHOOP is the perfect partner if your life is this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But, if your goal is to keep your fitness ticking over (working out a couple of times a week), WHOOP is death by data. It\u2019s paralysis by analysis. etc. etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Oh and the second group – biohackers. If you\u2019re familiar with Bradley Johnson, the man on a mission to reverse aging, being optimal at all costs. WHOOP is fantastic at delivering the data and analysis that satisfies that group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But if you\u2019re trying to get a few more steps in, then a cheaper fitness watch will probs do you fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      it\u2019s made me conscious of choices I make on the impact they have<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I’m a pretty conscious of my health. I\u2019m not one to binge on food and drink, and I already prioritise my sleep. But, WHOOP took that consciousness of choices to the next level – for better and worse\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Now, every choice and habit now seem like they\u2019re made for one sole reason… To get green recovery on the wheel in the WHOOP dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Now you may be asking – why is chasing \u2018good health\u2019 or rather, green recovery, a bad thing? Isn’t finding stuff that has a positive impact on your recovery and energy a good thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I am a lot more healthy (resting heart rate, HRV, etc.) six months on. But I do feel like I crossover into compulsiveness by living by the sleep schedule it sets me, and not my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      i drink less<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I also don\u2019t drink as much now because I can see that the impact of 1-2 drinks for me is -8%, yet 3+ is -19%. Again, this is a good habit reinforced but it\u2019s still in the back of my mind even when I have a bi-monthly blowout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019m keen to make good choices and be in control of my health, but it\u2019s WHOOP calling the shots (the non-alcoholic shots ofc).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      the charging system is incredible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      In the event of some kind of Doomsday, the US President\u2019s private 747, Air Force One, would take to the sky. Where it would remain airborne for as long as the emergency is happening. This is because it has the capability to refuel in mid-air by special military fuelling jets. The refuelling jets land, refuel and then refuel Air Force One again and again. The President never has to land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This is what comes to mind when describing how WHOOP bands recharge\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ok, I definitely over-egged the analogy but it\u2019s very good…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      WHOOP comes with a light, slide-over portable charger, that also charges. This means you never have to take off your WHOOP to charge (or have to land Air Force One\u2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      a fitness tracker on your wrist will NEVER be accurate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      One of my gripes with WHOOP is how prone the system output is to bad input data. If you feed in inaccurate heart rate data, the resulting strain will be an overestimation. And so will your recommended sleep time and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019ll let you in on a secret… Any heart rate data taken from your wrist while running WILL be inaccurate. This is because sweat interferes and it being less reliable than conductor pads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I sometimes feel like a bit of a wrong-un when I run with three heart rate measuring devices. But it does bring out a hilarious range of outputs on easy runs. My heart rate chest strap saying 140bpm and WHOOP saying 180bpm\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      i will go for my sunday long run regardless of what it tells me<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The best and worst thing about WHOOP are insights of how ready you are to perform. It\u2019s useful info but I have a training schedule and a busy life. So if I want to do my Sunday long run, I will go whether WHOOP says I\u2019m ready or not – unless I\u2019m ill or injured ofc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      what about the alternatives?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      When buying a fitness tracker, there are four questions you need to ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Goals:<\/strong> Are you looking to improve your sleep, track your workouts, or lose weight?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Budget:<\/strong> How much are you willing to spend on a wearable fitness device?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Lifestyle:<\/strong> How active are you? A couple of workouts a week or everyday?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Device preferences:<\/strong> Do you prefer a wristband, ring, or smartwatch? Do you want a device with a long battery life? Do you want a device that can make calls and send text messages?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        I\u2019ve created a handy comparison table to match this to your needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Feature<\/th>WHOOP<\/th>Oura Ring<\/th>Fitbit Charge 5<\/th>Garmin Forerunner 265<\/th>Apple Watch Series 9<\/th>Samsung Galaxy Watch6<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
        Who is it for?<\/td>Serious athletes who train nearly everyday<\/td>Health-conscious entrepreneurs<\/td>Just want to be a bit healthier and active<\/td>Suits most everyday runners<\/td>Likes to stay fit but also wants to pay for stuff on their wrist\u2026<\/td>You\u2019re like the Apple person but you have a Samsung<\/td><\/tr>
        Pros<\/td>High-quality data analytics, the most accurate, strong community of users<\/td>Comfortable to wear, long battery life, most stylish<\/td>More affordable<\/td>Durable, long battery life, many features<\/td>The most features possible crammed into it<\/td>Affordable, similar features to Apple Watch<\/td><\/tr>
        Cons<\/td>Expensive subscription required, no screen<\/td>Can be uncomfortable to wear, limited features<\/td>Not as accurate, subscription hikes price<\/td>Not as stylish as some other devices<\/td>Interface may lack for more advanced users<\/td>Not as many features as Apple Watch<\/td><\/tr>
        Price<\/td>from \u00a316\/pm<\/td>$299 (+$6\/pm membership)<\/td>\u00a3130 (+\u00a38\/pm membership)<\/td>\u00a3429<\/td>\u00a3399<\/td>\u00a3289<\/td><\/tr>
        Equiv over 2 years<\/td>\u00a3384<\/td>$443 (\u00a3356 as at 15\/09\/23)<\/td>\u00a3322<\/td>\u00a3429<\/td>\u00a3399<\/td>\u00a3289<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        final thoughts<\/strong>…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        I\u2019m paying \u00a319 per month for something that has the same sensors as my running watch. But the value I get back in good habit reinforcement is somehow justified. It\u2019s silly things like \u2018sleep need\u2019 that keep my actions bound by WHOOP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Being transparent, other subscription-free smartwatches out there have the same sensors as WHOOP. But I don\u2019t think they distill the data and insights that matter in the beautiful way that WHOOP does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        It\u2019s an annoying conclusion to come to but WHOOP matches my lifestyle. I run and lift every day of the week, so it\u2019s enabled me to prioritise recovery and make measurable gains as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Is WHOOP worth the hefty subscription? Here’s a complete breakdown of 6-months wearing one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[30,18,19],"class_list":["post-1250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fitness-tracker","tag-hybrid-athlete","tag-running"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1250"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1250"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1332,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1250\/revisions\/1332"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}