Last week, Nike released its Nike+ FuelBand fitness-tracking device to much fanfare, but this celebrity-endorsed gadget isn't the first high-tech offering when it comes to gathering your workout stats. Read on to compare fitness monitors Bodybugg, Fitbit Ultra, MotoACTV, Jawbone Up, and the Nike+ FuelBand.
Nike put on quite a show in NYC today to introduce its new Nike+ Fuelband ($149). Jimmy Fallon played emcee for a roster of Nike execs and spokespeople, like hoops star Kevin Durant, Lance Armstrong, and sprinter Carmelita Jeter, at the Highline Stages, where the product was unveiled.
The new bracelet is part watch, part exercise monitor, which allows you to set daily exercise goals and share your accomplishments with friends through Facebook, Foursquare, and Path. It's the competitive aspect that Nike hopes will differentiate this product from other exercise monitors. There is a USB port built into the band for uploading your stats, as well as Bluetooth capabilities. Even cooler, the Fuelband also has an innovative battery that can last up to four days. The Nike design team focused heavily on creating a stylish accessory, but this new gadget is really about motivating users to get out there and be active. You know, to just do it!
You can preorder a Fuelband today, which will be available as of Feb. 22. Will you be getting one?
I like to think I'm disciplined with my weekly workout schedule, but sometimes I need some additional coercing to get my butt to the gym. Online progress tracking tools are great for keeping you motivated, and for holding you accountable if your healthy habits happen to take a nosedive. With the holidays just around the corner, many of us will be on the road visiting friends and family, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with our fitness routines. So we've rounded up five fitness tracking websites to help keep you on track — and they're all free!
Although I'm on the computer blogging daily, I'm a bit of a Luddite but trying to move away from paper journals for tracking my calories. Maybe because I'm a fan of Lance Armstrong or because the DailyPlate is one of my go-to sites for nutritional information, I chose the MyPlate feature at LiveStrong.com for my first foray into online food and fitness journaling. I've been using the site for two weeks now and so far so good.
Tracking calories consumed is super easy. You can either search for a food (the database has many commercial restaurants, bakeries, and packaged foods) or enter it manually. Many of my staple items are in there: Fage Greek Yogurt, Trader Joe's bread, soba noodles, and coffee drinks from my fave cafe, Peet's. You can also preprogram your favorite meals, making food journal entries a one-click activity. There is a recipe tool for tracking homemade meals too, which is great if you make a big old pot of soup and eat the leftovers throughout the week. When dining out you can use the LiveStrong app ($2.99) on your iPhone and learn that, when dining at Chevy's, you can save about 150 calories by ordering the veggie burrito and passing on the chicken fajitas. The app is great for tracking food on the go.
Learn about the fitness tracker when you read more
