Fitness Gadgets

Fitness Gadgets Moves

Ok, even though I haven't been posting more than a few times a month, I decided to get a domain name for Fitness Gadgets and give it its own home.  This way, I can upload pictures without worrying much about going over my alloted bandwidth.  So, from here on updates will be at:

http://www.fitness-gadgets.com

Body Gem, a Gadget to Help You Lose Weight

It seems like there are all sorts of non-scientific ways to estimate how many calories your body needs in a day (i.e. take your weight and multiply it times elven--or was it ten...).  Knowing this can really help you plan a weight loss program (all you have to do is take the number of calories your body current needs to maintain its weight and subtract a few, right?), but everyone's metabolism is a bit different, depending on muscle mass and lots of other factors, so you really can't get a good idea by just using some hokey formula.  That's why I like the idea of the Body Gem.

It's a little gadget where all you do is breathe into it, and it can measure the rate at which your body burns calories.  With this information a physical trainer or dietician can help you plan a weight loss program that makes sense and will actually help get the pounds off.

http://www.medcompsys.com/bodygem.html

ROM Home Cross-training Machine

  The ROM has been around for a while (it won the "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science in 1991), but I've yet to see one hanging out in the cardio section at the gym.  It could be the almost $15,000 price tag.  Yeah, if you thought the Bowflex was expensive...

It does look intriguing though, and I wouldn't mind trying one.  It's hard to work up excitment for the treadmill or elliptical trainer any more.  The ROM is supposed to give you a complete workout in four minutes a day.  The company says, "From 4 minutes on the ROM you get the same results as from 20 to 45 minutes aerobic exercise (jogging, running, etc.) for cardio and respiratory benefits, plus 45 minutes weight training for muscle tone and strength, plus 20 minutes stretching exercise for limberness/flexibility."  Of course, the real question is how many calories does the sucker burn... Do they really think we ladies spent an hour on the stairmaster because of respiratory benefits? *snort* 

Anyway, I digress.  If it looks like something you're interested in, the company offers a free video over on their site if you want to check it out.  (Nope, I don't make anything if you buy one.  But if you do please come back and let us know how it goes.)

http://www.fastexercise.com/

A Gadget for Golfers

The Suunto G6 Pro Wristop Computer is a gadget for golfers.  It's designed to improve swing consistency.  Worn on the wrist, the device monitors the tempo, rhythm, backswing length, and club head speed with every stroke.  It provides instant feedback, which allows golfers to feel and repeat that elusive perfect swing.  And, of course, it functions as a watch, too, with the usual time, date, stopwatch, and alarm functions.

Available for $425 from Amazon, the golfer watch may be the best gift you ever get that hard-to-shop for golfer in your family: Suunto G6 Pro Golf Computer Watch

http://www.suunto.com

PumpPod: Turn Your iPod into Your Own Personal Trainer

If getting in shape is one of your New Year's resolutions, but you're not sure how to get started, you might want to check out the PumpPod.  It's a personal trainer program that runs on your iPod.  Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for sessions with a real physical trainer, the PumpPod walks you through one-hour workouts for $19.  (And unlike a session with a physical trainer, you keep the program, so you can remember what you're supposed to be doing the next time you hit the gym.)  The program uses illustrations and step-by-step instructions on things like how to do a squat with barbells; it also includes information on how many repetitions and sets you should be doing.  It even tells you how long to rest.  Since it all shows up on the screen (no voice commands), it won't interfere with your tunes playing in the background either.  You can customize the workouts (i.e. add or drop exercises) via an interface on your computer.  The company promises the program is easy to use.  If you can work an iPod, you can work the PumpPod. 

http://www.pumppod.com

Home Body Fat Tester

In case you haven't heard it yet, total body fat percentage is more important than weight when it comes to your health.  It's easy to get caught up in worrying about the pounds, but you need to set weight goals that take into account your body shape, muscle mass, and other things you can't tell with a regular home scale.  The Omron home body fat tester is a simple hand-held device.  No more need to mess with measuring tapes and skin callipers.  Basically, you grab the grips and press the start button to take a body fat reading any time from the privacy of your home.

The body fat tester is $70 via Amazon: Body Fat Analyzer