Here’s proof, the Galaxy Watch 5 can help you better your health

I bought my first Samsung smartwatch a little over two weeks ago, and I’m now completely sold on the idea. I don’t see myself not wearing a smartwatch anytime soon, and I must admit it is ironic, given that I never thought I’d find these wearables very useful. Cool, maybe, but not very practical or extremely useful. Oh, how my view changed in just two weeks!

Full disclosure: I used to be a smoker, and for the past couple of years, during lockdowns, I haven’t exercised much. That’s a bad combination if I know one, and as a result, every time I took a heart rate reading, things didn’t look great, with a resting BPM in the mid-80s to mid-90s. It wasn’t necessarily a reason to worry, but my resting HR appeared to slowly creep up toward 100 BPM as time went on.

So, back in mid-February, I decided it was time for a change. I quit smoking and tried my best not to fall into the trap of replacing one bad habit with overeating. I kept a healthier diet and succeeded in not gaining any more weight, but my fitness level wasn’t great, and my heart rate was still a reason for me to worry a bit. But then I bought the Galaxy Watch 5 on March 16, and it immediately helped me push myself to the next level.

My resting heart rate decreased in just two weeks of using the Galaxy Watch 5

Before I go on, I should probably clarify that this is not an ad or a promotional piece of any kind. Buying my Galaxy Watch 5 wasn’t something very exciting or eventful. And no, nobody purchased or gifted me the Watch 5 in return for any favors.

The idea to buy a Galaxy Watch 5 just came to me one morning, a month into my nicotine withdrawal. I woke up more tired than usual and thought that a Samsung smartwatch might help me monitor my sleep and blood oxygen level for signs of sleep apnea. I also thought maybe it would help me keep better track of my calorie intake, given my diet and lifestyle change.

I looked for a Galaxy Watch 5 online, and as luck would have it, I found a good discount. I bought the 44mm Bluetooth-only model, and I’m happy to report that I don’t seem to suffer from sleep apnea. But more than that, in only two weeks of using it, the Galaxy Watch 5 seems to have helped me lower my average resting heart rate, which, as I said before, I wasn’t comfortable with sometimes sitting in the mid-90 BPM

Mind you, this improvement didn’t happen without any intervention on my part. I didn’t just slap the Galaxy Watch 5 on my wrist and wait for my resting heart rate to improve. Instead, the day I started wearing my Galaxy Watch 5, I tried reaching the (default) daily goal across all three categories: steps, time exercised, and calories burned. And I managed to do so most of the time, with very few exceptions.

Now, far be it for me to offer health or fitness advice. I have never been a big fan of working out or spending time in the gym, as I (irresponsibly) always preferred using that time playing my favorite video game or watching my favorite show. And I’m probably not the right person to talk to about nutrition and the best ways to lose weight or gain muscle mass.

But this is my experience with the Galaxy Watch 5, and for disclosure, I reached my daily goals by fast walking. I found it to be the most relaxing physical exercise, and most importantly, I could sustain it for an hour or more. Fast walking was just what I needed, and I think it is my perfect alternative to jogging — which I can’t do for long given, my past smoking habits. In addition to fast walking, I’m doing some light weight lifting at home.

It’s not magic. But it is kind of magical

What I have learned from using my Galaxy Watch 5 for the past two weeks is, for someone like me who seemingly needs some motivation to stay active, one of the best things about a smartwatch is that it has given me a daily target to aim for.

It may be silly, but I believe in simple, clear fitness goals making the difference between an active and a sedentary lifestyle, at least for some people. And the Galaxy Watch 5 has been great at pushing me to achieve my daily fitness goals. From March 16 onward, I have reached my targets almost every day, and combined with a better diet, I believe it helped me lower my average resting heart rate by more than 10 BPM.

Even if that assessment is somehow incorrect, I know with certainty that the Galaxy Watch 5 helped me stay more motivated for the past two weeks.

The other great thing about the Galaxy Watch 5 and Samsung Health is that they clearly show you how any improvements you make every day will compound over multiple days and weeks, thus keeping you motivated to continue pushing. Seeing my average resting heart rate go down week after week feels very rewarding, and I’m looking forward to reaching my targets in other areas, including weight and muscle mass.

After two weeks, the Galaxy Watch 5 really is my new favorite gadget. And I encourage anyone who would like to be more active but feels like keeping track of fitness goals is pointless busy work to try a smartwatch. It might be the one missing fitness companion they need to get the ball rolling.

But for a bit of a warning, as magical as Samsung Health and all that collecting of fitness data seem, the Galaxy Watch 5 doesn’t work actual magic. It can be a motivator, but it’s up to you to put in the physical effort. Otherwise, you may end up with a relatively expensive smartwatch you don’t really like using all that much.

Thankfully, for me, it’s been the complete opposite. And if you have any inclination toward improving your fitness, I really hope a smartwatch will be the motivator you need if you ever try one. If you’re unsure whether it would be worth it, maybe look for a Galaxy Watch at a discount, as I did. Check our local Samsung store and see if there are any available.