FitSugar

Get in Gear: Must Have Gadget for Hiking

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Seriously, sometimes I think I am MacGyver. Especially when I am out in the woods on a hike but the truth is that while I love the occasional hike in the woods (or along the coastline) I am no outdoorsy guru.

That being said, I like to feel prepared at all times, especially when playing in the great outdoors. Many day hikes may not require the AdventurePlus ($20.00), but it never hurts to be prepared, now does it? This one little gadget includes a compass, a mirror, a magnifying glass, a whistle, a thermometer, a flashlight and a tiny little compartment to keep things (like matches) dry. Buy it online from Highgear.com.

Hiking will be even more fun now that you're prepared to take on any situation so you can concentrate on getting that heart rate going. Now all you need is a good trail to explore -- Check out this listing of free trails.

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Body Wedge for a Full Body Workout

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:45:00 -0800

Looking for an all in one fitness product that actually does what it says?

If yes, then BodyWedge21 ($79.00) is a great and unique addition to your home gym. It keeps exercise simple and to the point. The 21 exercise routine developed specifically for the Bodywedge21 is a great way to change up ordinary exercises. To start, simply follow the video of the 21 exercises and once you have that mastered, just use the exercise chart printed right on the padded wedge itself. Follow the planned exercises and you can also add variation to exercises you already do. With the wedge you can work your abs, butt, thighs, triceps, chest and lower back. BodyWedge21 allows you to use your own body weight and strength for resistance but for added work, you can use weights or resistance bands. It's like a bench (on an incline) combined with a step, combined with a personal trainer. To get the most out of it, be sure to add cardio (before or after) as well. I think I might have to add this to my list of home gym essentials. Buy it directly from BodyWedge21.com.

To see all of the exercises you can do with one BodyWedge21, read more

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Prep For Your Workout the Night Before

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:12 -0700

Once the girls are asleep, one thing on my to-do list before going to sleep is to get ready for the next day's workout. It's such a relief to avoid the stress of running around trying to find my favorite sports bra in the morning, and once it's all planned out the night before, it's more likely to happen. Here are some things you can do the night before to get ready for your workouts.

Do laundry to wash stinky gym clothes, towels, etc.
Lay your exercise clothes out or pack your gym bag, complete with sneakers, sports bra, and dry outfit to change into.
Pop a video in the DVD player, and get your mat, weights, or other equipment ready.
Make your pre and post-workout snacks.
Charge your iPod and other fitness gadgets.
Fill your water bottle and stick it in the fridge.
Iron out details with workout buddies or personal trainer, including time and place you're meeting.

Product Review: Colgate Wisp Mini-Brushes

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Perhaps to encourage my after-meal tooth brushing, a friend of mine recently introduced me to Colgate Wisp Mini-Brushes ($8.50 for a pack of 16). Designed for dental hygiene on the go, these one-time-use toothbrushes come with toothpaste built right in - in the form of a "freshening bead" - and a toothpick opposite the brush end.

My initial reservation with these disposable toothbrushes is that they aren't exactly eco friendly. But then again, there are certain times when this gadget could come in handy: in airports after long flights, while camping, or anytime I'm caught without a toothbrush on the go. But the eco unfriendliness wasn't my only problem with these, so read more.

Since the bristles are somewhat stiff, I wanted to be especially careful to brush properly to protect my gums. But at about three inches long, the Wisp Mini-Brush was awkward to use, making it difficult to mimic a normal tooth brushing motion. However, the freshening bead worked well, even without water, adding a nice peppermint flavor without a lot of foam, and the flexible toothpick was great, doubling as a gum stimulator.

I still felt bad throwing all of this waste away, especially since the toothbrush wasn't terribly effective. Not only is the brush itself disposable, but it also comes in excessive packaging, with individual plastic packs per four brushes. I can see these being helpful in emergencies, but I don't think I'd buy them again.

Back on Track: Spin Salad For the Week

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Of all the kitchen gadgets that help you eat healthy, one of my favorites is the salad spinner. I used to find them silly, but now that I have one, I use it all the time. With a little elbow grease, the whirling colander makes it easy to wash and dry lettuce in large batches.

If you've got a salad spinner, make it a part of your Sunday night ritual. Buy a head of lettuce over the weekend, then wash and dry a big batch on Sunday night. You can just keep the lettuce in the spinner and store it in the fridge. That way, you've got a bunch of prewashed lettuce for weekday lunches and dinners.

Fit Gift Guide: Surfer Betty

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

The surfers I know live and breathe the sport, so giving a gift that supports their hang-loose hobby will be sure to please any surf-loving Betty in your life. From the home to the ocean, I've found a few fun presents that will make a surfer girl's holiday simply rad.

Ted Shreds Surf Wax Candle: A lot of surfers can't get to the beach as often as they'd like, and this tropical wax-scented candle will remind them of riding that beloved board. They won't have to worry about the 32-ounce candle burning too quickly, because its burn time is from 80-100 hours.
Robb Havassy Poster: This colorful poster would be a cool addition to a deserving wall, and part of the purchase proceeds goes to SurfAid International. A great gift and a good cause, all wrapped into one.
GoPro Sports Wrist Camera: This shockproof/waterproof wrist camera is ideal for surfing and other outdoor sports. It can be used up to 100 feet underwater and can pivot upright for capturing videos or photos on the fly. The miniature gadget will make riding waves with friends even more fun.

What's the Deal with the Bodyblade

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Always on the lookout for new fitness gadgets, the Bodyblade has grabbed my attention.

The Bodyblade ($50-$160) is a tool that claims to use up to 270 muscle contractions per minute, and doesn't bulk you up. Basically you just take the long blade, shake it by pushing and pulling front to back or side to side, and then try to match the movement of the blade as it oscillates back and forth. And you only need 60 seconds with this blade for a workout - red flag! Sure, I could see this blade working your core if you're standing on a Bosu trying to shake it, but then we're just getting into a lot of moving parts for a workout that you could get without all the tricks.

I did actually use something like this back when I had to do a little physical therapy; it was fun. While the gadget did seem to help me strengthen my shoulder, I can not say I'll be bringing a Bodyblade to the gym anytime in the near future. Along with PT benefits, the blade can be a helpful tool for training for golf, tennis, or even surfing, just not for everyday weight loss. It's a bit bulky and I would be afraid that I would take someone or something out as I tried to get the blade moving. I was also turned off that I could not find any caloric calculations on the site in terms of how much one can expect to burn by using the device.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try it, but I'll be sticking to my classic workout. Has anyone already tried the Bodyblade? Share the details in the comments section below.

Source

Get in Gear: Garmin Forerunner 405 Watch

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:30:00 -0800

I like a multifunctioning gadget. Take the iPhone for instance. It gives you phone, email, music, and Internet all in one. Runners no longer need to be envious of others' tech-savvy gadgets, the new Garmin watch could definitely compete with the iPhone when it comes to multifunctioning. The Forerunner 405 ($318.74) is a watch that not only monitors your heart rate and tracks your time, distance, pace, and calories burned, but it has a GPS! And all that data fits around your wrist.

Want to hear more about it? Then read more

The Forerunner 405 can store data from your runs, and then wirelessly sends it to your computer so you can analyze it and assess your fitness goals, using the thumb drive pictured in the left-hand corner. You can also download recorded courses or race a Virtual Partner. This watch also allows you to also have the ability to send data to other people who own the Forerunner 405. That means you can send your favorite workouts to a running buddy to try, or you can compete against a friend's recorded course. Sounds like great motivation to me.

Since the GPS uses satellite signals, it's great for using outdoors and even under trees. You can also track your training when you're inside, too. You can get the optional Foot Pod ($119.99) that clips on to your laces (like the Nike+ iPod Sports Kit), and it will tell you your speed, distance, time, and calories burned. If you're into bike riding, you can also buy the Bike Sensor ($60) and track your workouts while cycling.

I love that it has a touchscreen so you don't have to futz with hitting specific buttons to find out how long you've been running. What kind of stinks is that if you want to track your heart rate, you need to buy the band that wraps around your chest for $60 extra. I know this is kind of pricey for the whole shebang, but if you're in the market for a new heart-rate monitor and had your eye on a handheld GPS unit, this might be the new gadget for you.

I would love to get one, but since Christmas is over I think I am going to have to wait. With a price tag like that, this watch is a serious splurge. Do you want one? Tell me about it in the comments section below.

FitSugar Giveaway: BodiBeat

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:17:14 -0700

I believe that a playlist filled with driving beats is an essential for getting my heart rate up, and that is why I love the BodiBeat from Yamaha.

This cutting edge fitness gadget is a combo music player and heart rate monitor that also synchronizes the songs to the pace of your workout. It helps you run to the beat by changing songs as you speed up. The price may be a little steep at $300, so we decided to give one away, like a few of you Sugar users suggested.

To enter to win a BodiBeat, just take the quiz below by 1 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct but simply on taking the quiz after you are logged in.

You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to enter. So if you're not already one, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to TeamSugar for your quiz to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Cool Fitness Gadget: The Swirl

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0700

I wanted to tell you more about a cool fitness gadget that is a must have for this Spring: the Swirl.

The Swirl ($169) is an all-in-one heart rate monitor, music player, and virtual personal trainer. Together with the Swirlfit web service, it helps to improve your health and overall fitness by making it more fun and effective to work out. What's more? The Swirl is only one ounce. Swirlfit web service lets you create your own heart rate zone training programs and intensity-match them to your favorite music. All you have to do is plug in and download your data to your computer. It uses a single audio stream for coaching, heart rate and music. This way you can hear instructions, alerts, prompts and music at the same time.

It is a little pricey, but it's a cool way to get motivated if you have the extra funds and/or if you like to track yourself via charts and data. I just love that it is all in one since I always have several gadgets with me at the gym, it would be nice to consolidate. Your purchase includes: Swirl Personal Digital Trainer, standard headset, chest strap, USB cable, 3 months access to Swirlfit Online service (a $29.99 value). For more information and to buy it go here.