Fitness and Technology Team Together to Aid Weight Loss

Many times in the last several months technology has reared its fitness head, and has put some fitness gadgets on the market that really can be quite beneficial in helping to lose weight and get fit.

My husband and I have been in the fitness industry for many years. My husband is a personal trainer, and I am a fitness instructor. Believe me when I say we have seen some utterly ridiculous things on the market that are advertised basically as being the magic gadget that will give you the body that you've always wanted.

Well, I'm sorry to tell you that there is no magic gadget, but technology has produced some gadgets that are available now that really can be beneficial in helping people to get fit, and loose weight.

I have here a list of gadgets that I think, if used regularly and properly, can help in getting fit and losing weight; and why.

Fitbit Tracker
www.fitbit.com

Fitbit is basically a small clip with a motion sensor in it. This Tracker senses the intensity of a person's activities, the amount of calories burned, the number of steps taken and the distanced traveled during the day. I will even record how long it takes the wearer to get to sleep, and how long they were sleeping versus lying in bed. The Fitbit Tracker can be kept in a pocket, clipped onto a waistband or belt, and can even be clipped onto undergarments such as a bra.

The cost of the Fitbit is a little spendy at $99, but it is such a good tool for anyone concerned with their overall fitness and good health. I highly recommend going to the website and learning more about this fitness marvel.

Yamaha Bodibeat
www.yamaha.com/bodibeat/

I don't know if you've ever tried to do a good cardio without good music and the proper tempo, but it is next to impossible. Several times I have been at the gym and the music being played doesn't go with what I need to achieve in my cardio. I usually end up getting frustrated and switching to something else, or going home. My husband got me a really good cd player that was shock resistant, and could be used for running, but I ended up having a problem having to change songs back and forth depending on whether it was a jog or a sprint. The Bodibeat changed all that.

The Bodibeat works and looks kind of like the MP3 player. You can even load your own songs into it, but it really isn't necessary. It has the music of a thousand or more songs of varying tempo, just waiting for you to start moving. The Bodibeat will play music that matches the tempo of your walk, jog or sprint. If you are doing weights, there is music for that as well. An to help keep you on track, it also has tracking features such as distance and time. There is a heart rate monitor that gently clips to your ear to help you keep track of that as well. It can be bought for just under $300.00.

EA Sports Active and EA More Workouts
http://eastore.ea.com

It is necessary to have a Wii in order to use the workout programs on this package. If you have access to one, I know that you will thoroughly enjoy these programs. It makes working out a lot of fun, especially when you can't go to the gym.

You can water ski, do step aerobics, cardio boxing and crunch and punch. It also has 35 new exercises and fitness activities that promises to give you a challenge.

You can buy this at Best Buy, Walmart or Amazon for just under $40.00, or you can buy at this website.

Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus
www.nintendo.com/wii

The Wii Fit comes with a balance board and more than 40 exercises and activities to help get you into shape. From yoga to snowboarding, there is an activity for everyone to enjoy; or one for each day of the week. There are four different categories to choose from: strength, aerobic, yoga and balance games. The cost for this is $120.00, and can be bought online at Nintendo, or you can go to Walmart, K-Mart or Target.

The Wii Fit Plus is basically an extension of Wii Fit but much more, and costs around $19.99.

Hawaii/Hula Chair
www.mahalo.com
www.thehawaiichair.com

I couldn't believe it when a friend of mine told me that she had one of these at her desk at home. She said she loved it, and has seen great results with the tone of her abs. I had to go over and try it. It looks just like a regular office desk chair. If you want to work out your abs for awhile, you turn the chair on, and the seat rotates in a circular motion either right or left, simulating the hula. You really can feel the workout.

I haven't bought one of these. I use the ab-twist at the gym regularly, but this chair does give the same feel after workout.

These are just a few of the fitness gadgets that technology has enhanced, and made working out a lot more pleasant.