Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad bought the heart rate monitor to become a better runner. Then she became familiar with the “body battery” function. Over the course of the year, she has increasingly followed everything the clock registers. – I realized that this is interesting to look at. What makes me stress or not stress. It has led to more cold baths, less TV and fewer glasses of wine. IN REAL TIME: The advanced clocks provide a continuous overview of the body’s energy level.IN REAL TIME: The advanced clocks provide a continuous overview of the body’s energy level. Stress when she “relaxes” Nerstad is most surprised by what the watch says about her Friday activities. – Then I actually have quite a high stress level, and then I thought I was sitting on the sofa and relaxing. She describes a Friday evening that is common in many Norwegian homes; tacos on the menu, the golden streak on TV, and a glass of wine or a couple of beers to round off the working week. Still, the clock shows that she is not relaxing. – But does it feel like you’re relaxing? – Yes, it does. The clock has made Nerstad think more through what she has been involved in. For example, is it conceivable that the stress level on Friday evenings is related to her going almost straight from work, to spinning and on to taco dinner? Further down in the case, you will get the expert’s view on the case! CHECK THE DIFFERENCE: The images are screenshots of the body battery of one of news’s reporters. The curve shows the stress level over two different nights. The first is a night without alcohol consumption beforehand. The second after three glasses of red wine. How the clock works The body’s autonomic nervous system’s job is to maintain the body’s basic functions. Such as blood pressure breathing and digestion. The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is particularly activated in stressful and demanding situations. The activation will lead to changes in the body, such as the heart beating faster, blood vessels dilating, blood supply to the digestive organs decreasing and the airways expanding. The pulse variation, i.e. the difference between the pulse on inhalation and exhalation, becomes lower. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated when we relax. The activation leads to the opposite of what happens when the sympathetic nervous system is activated. The pulse variation becomes higher. Much research has been done on heart rate variability in the last thirty years. There is broad agreement about the connection between high heart rate variability, lower stress levels and overall good health. The pulse clock’s measurements of pulse variation are made by an optical sensor on the underside of the clock. They are based on pulse changes at the millisecond level. Dropping wine at work gatherings Nerstad has not followed the clock to the letter, but she has taken into account some things her body reacts to. – If I remove some noise, and have a few evenings where I withdraw, then I recharge better. PRIORITIZING: Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad does not want to drain her battery too far, if she has to perform something the next day. PRIORITIZES: Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad does not want to drain her battery too far, if she has to perform something the next day. She has also learned that it doesn’t take much alcohol before it shows up on the baskets. Nerstad says this knowledge has led to her now preferring a cup of tea if she is tired or not quite well. It also motivates her to drop wine at work gatherings where she wants to perform the following day. Stress researcher: – We don’t need a clock Professor Anette Harris at the University of Bergen believes it is good to be aware of what gives energy and what drains. She is fully aware that balance is important. – We humans in general probably need to listen to our own body more than we do. But I don’t think we need a watch to tell us that. SLEEP IS SUBJECTIVE: Professor Anette Harris currently works mostly with sleep. She believes that only the body can tell whether the night has been good or not: – If you feel clear during the day, and you don’t have to have an alarm clock and two cups of coffee to wake up, then that is a good enough indicator. Photo: Press photo / University of Bergen Harris has worked a lot with stress hormones. She says that the body is activated by worry and stress, but also by positive emotions such as falling in love and looking forward to something. – How will this clock determine the difference between these two things? After all, only you as a person can decide that. Simply put, Harris believes it’s about being honest with yourself and taking the time to ask yourself the questions: What do I need today? Rest or activity? – Because we know that when things get busy, we often cut back on what is good for us. “Body battery” trends like never before But – people buy watches like never before. In recent years, around one million activity watches have been sold annually. This is what Marte Ottemo, communications manager in the Electronics Industry, tells us. More and more of the more advanced models are being sold. – More expensive and with more functions, and a larger screen. We have seen that in the last three or four years. Ottemo believes this is linked to a longer focus on training and that many people are fond of “dumbing things”. – I would like to believe that a large part of the adult Norwegian population has a smart watch or an activity bracelet. DEVELOPING MARKET: There are several watches on the market that give the consumer the opportunity to monitor their own energy level throughout the day. Marte Ottemo in the Electronics Industry says that watches are popular. Photo: Frode Meskau / news The man behind the trend: – A revolution along the lines of antibiotics General practitioner Torkil Færø is current with the book “Pulskuren” which was launched in January. The “Pulslegen” is concerned with getting the most out of life, and has himself changed his lifestyle with the help of energy monitoring. – Breathing and pulse, i.e. very basic life functions, can tell us more about our health than we could hope for as doctors. The advanced watches monitor activity, stress, rest and sleep. This makes it possible to adapt the lifestyle to what the body needs most, according to the clock. And this information is available both day and night. It gives each individual the opportunity to assess for themselves: – Are you going to drain the “body battery” completely today, or do you have the opportunity to hold back a little and get a better balance in your stress? Færø believes that this is revolutionary. – I believe this is a revolution almost on a par with antibiotics and vaccines. CAN DO WONDERS: Doctor and author Torkil Færø believes that the control you get when using a “body battery” can do wonders for public health. – Not least to prevent a lot of burnout, tiredness and fatigue. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Happiness researcher warns against seeking perfection Ragnhild Bang Nes, psychologist and senior researcher at the Institute of Public Health, is referred to as a “happiness researcher”. – We see that in many ways we are exposed to tips and advice, and happiness cures; How to achieve the optimum or get better. The “happiness researcher” believes heart rate monitors can be motivating and useful, but at the same time warns against constantly seeking perfection. – When we are exposed to ideals of perfection all the time, then most people fall short. According to Nes, research has shown that measurements and constant evaluation of where one is on the road to the goal of happiness means that the individual becomes more concerned with himself. But the good life is about being in the here-and-now, and often about doing good things for others. THE GOOD LIFE: Researcher Ragnhild Bang Nes believes in finding a good balance: – There is a close link between harmony, balance, calm and presence, and a good life. Balance rather than “maxing out” something. It is very important, and strongly connected to being well. Photo: OLKA FALBA Statistics researcher: – It can be good, but it can also go too far. Helge Thorbjørnsen, professor at the Norwegian School of Economics, is also skeptical of the “body battery” trend. – It will be the technology that dictates your 24/7, that you don’t actually know very well yourself. It can have some unintended side effects. Thorbjørnsen is one of the authors behind the book “Tallskalle. How numbers rule our lives”. He points out that people interpret numbers based on their own perception. In particular, it can be difficult to interpret numbers that are personal. He also believes that it is difficult to determine what is the cause of the stress the watch registers. And that the search for these connections can easily lead to misconceptions. According to the “statist”, research often shows increased motivation in the short term, while in the longer term there is a clearer element of stress, fatigue and reduced motivation. CAN TAKE THE OVERRIDE: Professor Helge Thorbjørnsen at NHH sees that heart rate monitors can help people make sensible choices, but at the same time says that it is common for people to become excessively focused on the numbers over time. Photo: Press photo / Norwegian Business School Recharging the batteries Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad trains together with Merete Korsmo who has recently opened a training center in Grue. Both have watches on their wrists and individually they try to make small changes in their everyday lives. Merete Korsmo has changed her diet, and like Nerstad, she often chooses to stand over a glass of wine on Friday evenings. – I still have a party, but it’s less frequent. It’s always that trade-off, is it worth it? LESS SNACKS, LESS WINE: After four training sessions at Hæppi health and pizza for dinner, Merete Korsmo avoids snacks and wine on Friday evenings. Photo: Frode Meskau / news In Grue, they have become a group who follow their watches, and discuss the effects of what they do. This winter they will take cold baths together. – The effect you get on well-being and health, it can make you do a lot of strange things, including bathing in cold water, laughs Korsmo. At home in the living room, Nerstad continues to explore how she can influence stress curves. – I don’t get immediate “blue curves” from swimming. For me, it is more important what I do afterwards, such as TV, sound and telephone. WANT TO REFURNISH THE LIVING ROOM: Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad wants a place where there is no sound. – It is a bit drastic to start refurnishing because of the “body battery”, but it is to create a space to see if it can give slightly bluer curves.WANT TO REFURNISH THE LIVING ROOM: Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad wants a space where is not sound. – It is a bit drastic to start refurnishing because of the “body battery”, but it is to create a space to see if it can produce slightly bluer curves.
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Anne Ingeborg Lilleåsen Nerstad (43) follows along on body battery – was surprised – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
