We’ve put off our New Year’s resolution long enough – it’s time to get fit. But we need some help – digital help. Abu Dhabi Week takes a look at some gadgetry to help grind away that out-of-favour flab
Exercising can be dull, right? It takes a lot of motivation, determination and desire to wake up at 5.30am to go for that much-needed cardio session, or get along to that spin class after a long day’s work. But it’s thanks to our struggle of maintaining a regular exercise regime and want of having ‘instant results’ that the health and fitness market is now a multi-billion dollar industry.
We’ve decided to take a look at some of the latest and supposedly ‘greatest’ fitness products, to see if gadgets and gizmos really can help you to shed the pounds.
1 Adidas micoach SMART RUN
First up is the Adidas micoach SMART RUN. Many sports companies such as Reebok and Nike have all launched similar products, so it’s personal choice when it comes down to which people will prefer; most people will pick a Smartwatch based on style first rather than its capability.
The SMART RUN is a sleek piece of kit. Crisp edges with a black and silver colouring make this watch a cool accessory even when you’re not exercising. The touch-screen face is responsive and swift – it is a little tricky to get used to, but once you find your way around the different pages, you’ll have no trouble flicking between the applications.
The applications on the Smartwatch offer exactly what is needed when training. Built in GPS helps track your runs, along with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing wireless training; you can connect your Bluetooth headphones and listen to your 3GB worth of music. The built-in optical heart rate monitor also gives you live feedback before logging all of those geeky details to your micoach account.
When setting up your SMART RUN watch, you create a micoach account online. This allows you to view, log and create your workouts, making your exercise routine far more interactive than normal. Our test run, for example, gave us a greater insight to our 5k run. We wanted to improve our final 1.5km speed, so we logged on to our account, altered our ‘goals’ and started training – we even had Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis offering words of encouragement as our digital trainer.
From AED 1,645 at www.middle-east.adidas.com
VERDICT:
The SMART RUN is the perfect way to kick-start an active lifestyle. For those of you who want more than just a running time and distance, this gadget will give you all the extra data you’ll ever need related to your workout. It’s also a great way to share and compare with a gym buddy. The online account offers plenty of workouts and training programmes to keep you engaged for longer than before.
2 Slendertone Optimum
Much has been said about products like this, where you stick electrical pads to your abs and let the machine do the work, all while you watch the TV. But what has been said hasn’t always been positive. The words ‘gimmick’ and ‘pointless’ have been knocked around, putting people off this kind of merchandise.
But the Slendertone Optimum offers more than ‘toning’ options for your body. With programme options for relaxation, sport, pain (not to cause it, but to relieve it) and of course, toning, you’ll find something to suit your needs.
Slendertone uses Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) toning technology to create muscle contractions within your body. EMS essentially mimics the body’s natural muscle movements; signals are sent between the gel pads (on the garment), to the nerves that control your muscles, causing them to contract.
There are 23 programmes for different physical outcomes; each setting pulsates for different periods of time and intensity, all of which will begin to take effect – but after some time. There is a misconception that by simply applying the gel pads and sitting in front on the sofa will miraculously give you a six-pack and toned arms. The Slendertone Optimum will enhance and develop your muscles in size and tone at a quicker rate, as long as you maintain regular exercise and a healthy diet.
From AED 2,200 at www.slendertone.com
VERDICT:
This product will help you. But it is not a solution or a replacement for exercise. Using this piece of kit will allow you to reach your goal much quicker and help maintain your target physique.
3 Nike+ Kinect Training – Xbox 360 fitness game
Computer gamers have a bit of a stereotype of lounging on the sofa, eating crisps and slurping a soft drink. Well this certainly isn’t the case for players of this game. Nike+ Kinect Training is a full-on fantastic fitness training game, which is sure to get your heartpumping and body sweating.
This ‘workout DVD’ requires an Xbox 360 console and the Kinect Sensor – a motion-sensing device that picks up your body’s movements and other vitals via its 3D scanner. Once you have all this, you’re ready to get your sweat on.
The Nike+ Kinect Training is essentially a personal trainer on your screen. Your digital gym buddy will take you through your personalised regime – something you have set up before you start – and will help you improve and test your physical ability.
The Proof of Progress section of the game is something not only for the geeks who like to see the stats on their fats, but it’s also great encouragement for those who get discouraged by not seeing the physical results straight off; most exercise plans take around 4-6 weeks for you to notice a bodily change.
There is an online community for the Nike+ gamers, allowing you to share results and even work out together. Training with people around the world is quite an experience!
From AED 69 at www.geekygames.com
4 Finis neptune underwater headphones
One of the best ways to improve your fitness – cardiovascular and muscular strength – is swimming. But as you improve your swimming technique and, of course, distance, many people find it quite dull and often finish their training earlier than they should. Music is renowned for keeping gym enthusiasts ‘pumped’. A heavy beat, a catchy rhythm or even those lyrics that make you want to scream, all add to the amount of time you workout. But that’s in the gym, how about in the water?
The Neptune headset is a waterproof MP3 player that provides incredibly high quality sound while in the water, without the use of ear buds. Tech geeks listen up – the Neptune uses Bone Conduction audio transmission, which is something that is really starting to take off. Two side speakers attach to the cheekbones, which transmit a clear sound directly to the inner ear of the user. Listening to music, audio books, podcasts and more will no doubt give you that extra push you need when training.
From AED 400, from www.finisinc.com
Our favourites: Top 3 fitness gadgets
1. HAPIfork
Yes, we know this is a little gimmicky, but hear us out. Eating too fast, especially when we are on a tight lunch break, can lead to indigestion and poor weight control. This little gizmo tracks how fast you are eating, ‘fork servings’ per minute, and intervals between fork servings. The HAPIfork is designed to help reduce weight gain, digestive problems and reduce gastric reflux.
AED 365 from www.hapi.com
2. Lumo Fit
Our posture and body alignment is key to physical and mental happiness. But as we get older, there is no one to ‘clip our ear’ if we aren’t sitting correctly.
The Lumo Fit is a small gadget that monitors if you’re slouching and gives you a gentle ‘nudge’ by vibrating. The small square also monitors sleep patterns and calories burned.
www.lumobodytech.com
3. Umoro One
Ever get tired of carrying multiple bottles and containers to the gym? A protein shake after a workout is vital, but carrying all the extra tubs, shakers and water bottles takes up space. Enter the Umoro One. Prep this bottle with the protein powder, water flavouring or whatever you want to mix with the water chamber below. Push the button on the lid to release your mix into the liquid ready for shaking then drinking – no more messy attempts of getting that powder in cleanly.
AED 106 from www.umoro.com
App: Strava
Keeping the fitness theme rolling, Strava is an app that is designed for the runners of the city. GPS tagging of your runs is stored on your Smartphone where you can then share and compare running times and distances with fellow strava users. Warning – it can get a little competitive!
Instagram account: @MYFRESHBITE
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and carrots. Now what else is out there for healthy recipes? It’s difficult to be creative in the kitchen sometimes, especially when we are trying to lose weight. Check out @MYFRESHBITE on Instagram for some inspiration. Vibrant images spark plenty of ideas for you to whip up a storm. Bon appétit!
Youtube: Wadi Adventure Race
Here is a little insight into a race that you really should consider. Running a 10k can be boring – so why not add obstacles and lots of water? The Wadi Adventure Race at Wadi Adventure, Al Ain will take place again this year in November. If this doesn’t make you want to train for something, we don’t know what will.
Jack Dignum
