Google Fit updates to give you real-time stats and track your strength training

By Julian Chokkattu November 19, 2015

google fit real time update 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google is rolling out an update for its fitness app, Google Fit, that adds a few features and improves the apps overall functionality.

The update brings two main features. The first of which is instant insights, which lets users see real-time stats for their runs, walks and bike rides through the app. The app now records user’s “speed, pace, route, elevation, and more.”

Want an app to track your pushups? Google Fit can now do that. That’s the second feature: strength training. Paired with an Android Wear watch, the app will now automatically detect and count each pushup, squat and situp after you start a daily challenge. The count will be added to user’s daily activity.

The update also allows Google Fit to pull in info from nutrition apps, such as MyFitnessPal, FatSecret, Lifesum, or LoseIt, as well as brings in sleep tracking info from Sleep as Android, Xiaomi Mi Band and Mi Band 1S, Sony SmartBand 2, or the Basis Peak. All of which allows users to see “the whole picture” of their fit lifestyles.

“When you’re able to view your overall fitness, you may just start making better choices: taking the stairs instead of the elevator, choosing salads over eclairs,” Michael Gaiman, a software engineer for Google Fit, said in the blog post.

The update will be issued in a staged rollout, so expect to see it in the Google Play Store the coming weeks.

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Julian Chokkattu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

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