Gym | Evolving Consumer

Row, Row Indo-Row

Rowing machines have long been praised for providing an ideal workout. While many devices at gyms have come and gone, the rowing machine has long remained a staple. Rowing actually provides a really decent workout, and when done right uses 60 percent legs, 20 percent arms and 20 percent core muscles. Thus rowing can provide a really good workout.

The problem with many machines is that they don’t quite capture the same type of physical activity as actual rowing on water. Worse still the best rowing machines do the job, but then take up so much room that even health clubs are reluctant to utilize them. Some boats seem only slightly bigger. Continue reading Row, Row Indo-Row

Power (Platform) to the People

Too many Americans are probably carrying around too much weight, whilst those who are toned up and fit probably have too in the way of weights. That’s the belief of Donnie Gorsuch, the inventor of the Power Platform. Her thinking is that since the average American male can only bench press about 135 pounds without risking injury, and the average American woman can only press about 60 pounds, there is little reason for weigh machines that go up to 500 pounds.

Nor does she believe that there is good reason to fill the average home gym with a lot of gym equipment and lifting machines when the only real weight you need to lift is that of your own body. Gorsuch found a way to get the lifting in by essentially creating a brace for bodyweight training called the Power Platform. Continue reading Power (Platform) to the People

Fitness Journal: Joining a Gym, Sign on the Dotted Line

When it comes time to joining a gym, you need to sign on the dotted line. In this way gyms and cars are a bit alike. As with cars, it begins with sales. Membership at many gyms, particularly larger chains, is handled by salesmen. Unfortunately, like their auto counterparts, gym salesmen are viewed as deceptive. While many salesmen are hardworking and honest, there seems to be many that are willing to meet a sales quote at any cost, even if it means lying or omitting information; then there are those who just don’t know anything and end up giving the wrong information.

Most likely you’ll sign up without a hitch. At the affordable no-frills gym I joined, there was no salesman involved, just the front desk. The process required filling out one page of paperwork, signing a one-year contract, and handing over a credit card—done. At the second, costlier but full-featured gym I joined, I worked with a salesman on signing up for the membership. Although the process seemed routine, I ended up having to deal with unresolved problems that, unfortunately, the salesman no longer wishes to deal with. Without going into details, there are some things to remember before and after you join. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Joining a Gym, Sign on the Dotted Line

Fitness Journal: To Gym or Not to Gym

There are several questions you should ask yourself when it comes to deciding on whether or not to join a gym.

Can you achieve the same results from working out with some weights at home or taking a run or bike ride?

I know many people who are healthy, lean, and fit, but never or rarely step foot inside a gym. They achieve this by either working out at home using simple weights dumbbells or barbells or through a physically strenuous activity like biking, running, or walking, plus proper nutrition. While every individual’s body is unique and respond differently, keep in mind that there are other ways to get fit without having to go to the gym.

Of course, if you’re looking to bulk up and work specific muscles, a good gym offers plenty of machines and free weights for that purpose. Plus, many gyms have indoor amenities like a swimming pool and racquetball and basketball courts to cater to those types of activities, and, should you wish to pay for one, a trainer.

But a gym can also feel “soulless” and boring. Imagine biking on a forest trail or through an urban jungle like New York City and crossing over the George Washington Bridge into a more leafy New Jersey, all while experiencing the sights and sounds of a mini adventure. You can never get that type of exercise experience from a gym. Continue reading Fitness Journal: To Gym or Not to Gym

Fitness Journal: Should You Join a Gym?

I have only heard someone say “I love my new gym” once, and that came from someone who had too much disposable income to spend on an outrageously pricey workout facility. Exercise and staying fit should be an accessible and affordable (and, dare I say it, fun) activity, but as times have changed and we have traded working in the fields for the office, gyms have become an expensive but necessary evil in our modern sedentary lifestyles. But working out in a gym should be rewarding and enjoyable, right?

Well, unlike said person just mentioned, gyms are for the most part expensive. Most gyms are inconvenient and unless you live in Manhattan where everything is accessible, gyms involve driving to (oh, the irony). But even more excruciating is the actual joining of a gym, from shady business practices to dirty facilities.

Before you join a gym, read on about what you should be aware of. Much of the advice comes from personal experience and working at a fitness magazine with trained experts, and you may find them useful. Although there are many common-sense “duh” tips, there are some that even experienced gym-goers tend to forget when they join a new gym. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Should You Join a Gym?

Spin in Circles With the Ciclotte

A lot of exercise bikes have you put in the miles without actually going anywhere. But the Ciclotte spin cycle will have you getting nowhere in true style. The bike even looks much like a real work of art, but that’s because it is actually based on a concept bicycle is now part of the permanent collection of the Milan Design Museum. As such it is one piece of workout equipment that you probably wouldn’t mind having in your living room, even when you’re not actually using it!

Designer Luca Schieppati took his concept bike, which was based on the classic unicycles from the 19^th century, and reinterpreted its operating dynamics. This in turn became the Ciclotte stationary bicycle, which does look like it belongs more in a museum than a gym. It utilizes a minimalist design but with the utmost of high-tech components and materials, including fully adjustable saddle, pedals, handlebar and support arms. Instead of a chain-driven system the Ciclotte uses a dual satellite epicycloids system that features four gears with varying cogs. Thus the bike doesn’t have a traditional drive train, and instead has gears that turn the magnetized main wheel, in turn creating a magnetic field and thus maximizing the level of resistance. The result should be a good workout once you get into a nice spin. Continue reading Spin in Circles With the Ciclotte

Ubisoft Lets You Dance Your Way to the Gold

While Sony and Microsoft prepare to roll out their respective motion-centric game system add-ons this fall, Nintendo isn’t taking it lying or sitting down. The company, which has essentially danced its way to the bank with the Nintendo Wii, now will let gamers do the dancing. This week Ubisoft announced that Gold’s Gym Dance Workout is available for gamers to shake their way to better fitness.

The game offers a variety of dance routines with workouts that include Latin dance styles, as well as choreographed boxing dances and even mini-games that target specific muscle groups. Gold Gym Dance Workout includes multiple training modes to appeal to a range of fitness levels, whilst the difficulty of the gameplay can evolve as the player’s actual fitness level increases. Virtually players can hit the gym and visit some of the most iconic locations, including those in Japan, Egypt, India, Australia or even the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach. Continue reading Ubisoft Lets You Dance Your Way to the Gold

Will the Wii Actually Get You Fit?

Staying home and playing video games probably sounds like a lot more fun than actually hitting the gym, but a research from Ohio State University is questioning whether even “exercise” games such as the Wii Fit actually do any good? The New York Times reported that researcher Derek Troyer compiled a database that looked at the chances of getting an injury while taking part in a virtual workout as opposed to actually going to the gym.

The results are actually mixed. On the one hand users aren’t at as great a risk of getting injured by staying in their living rooms – the study noted that those who lift weights at the gym are four times more likely to get hurt, while those who run on a treadmill are 1.5 times more likely to hurt themselves. On the other hand, the study did find that real exercise at the gym far outweighs the benefits of virtual exercise – “even when the risks of injury are accounted for,” notes The New York Times.

The paper further quotes Jack L. Nasar, professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State, who oversaw the research, as saying” Wii Fit is probably not a serious threat to users, but it’s also not very useful for getting them fit.”

This maybe true, but the study probably didn’t take into account that hardcore gamers aren’t exactly the type of folks to hit the bike or the gym. So the fact that people are using the Wii Fit is actually something that needs to be considered as well. The benefits might not be up there with the gym, but we have to say it is better than just another game of Mario or Metroid.

Via The New York Times: Wii Exercise Doesn’t Beat the Gym

Grown Up Playtime

When we think of “play” too often we think of child’s play, as in something only a child would do. Adult games are typically considered the sort that deserve a rating with at least one X. But in the past few years video games, board games and other outlets have convinced us that there is a need for “playtime” for adults too – in a clean and fun sense.

This has been reinforced in a column over at Gamercize, another company that realizes that video games don’t have to be a stationary activity. In fact, the authors at ExergamingAustralia offer an interesting take, noting that “PLAY” is often a four letter word. This is stressed by the fact that exercise is often called “workout” and few say “I’m off to the gym to play.” So kudos to another site for helping promote the same message that we’ve been suggesting, which is that you can be active and still be found of your gadgets and technology.

Gamercize website

FitByFun Offers PC Workouts

: FitbyFun.com

If you don’t have a Nintendo Wii but want the same basic coaching with your workout, power up the PC (chances are if you’re reading this it is already on), and go to FitByFun.com. The site offers the same Mii styled characters that you’d get on the Wii, and this game offers motions that you can copy.

There is no controller to track your movements however, so it is more a monkey see and monkey do thing, much like the old video workouts. But an online fitness instructor will give you directions, and based on the workout you choose the game’s display will tell you how many calories you’ve burned. This is again more game that true workout routine, but as a game it feels a lot less like a “routine.” And unlike many other games this one can keep track of your workout, so you can actually review your progress over time.

What makes this website workout really work checking out is that it is web-based (obviously), and as such can be done via a laptop – so this is good for those road warriors who can’t take along a Wii. And since it is designed like a class, it is a bit like hitting the gym, even when your’e traveling.

It won’t replace other workouts and as it is interactive you’re only going to get as much out of it as you put in. But if you’re looking to get started, and like to spend time in front of the computer, this one does offer some fun to your fitness.

FitByFun.com

Cage Fitness Next Big Thing

Time to take down the stripper pole – if you actually jumped on that strange bandwagon – because the fad is over. The next big thing in faddy fitness could be “Cage Fitness,” as in the type of training down for Mixed Martial Arts. And even if you’re not about to climb into the ring and/or cage to pummel your opponent, this type of workout probably has more benefits than the pole dancing craze that swept the nation.

For one thing, would you rather be toned and fit like an “ultimate fighter” or able to swing on a pole? But in all seriousness the Cage Fitness workout, such as the one being endorsed and tested by nine-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes, replicates the actual routines that the MMA competitors regularly go through. This includes a full body, muscle toning and cardio workout, and according to those promoting this workout, can be done in about 30 minutes.

While we’ve heard that hype before, this one does work endurance, strength, power and core, and is done through five rounds that are broken into warm-up, upper body, lower body, combo round and core/cool down. The catch is that you can’t really do this at home, so look for Cage Fitness facilities to pop up, and for MMA classes to be taught at the gym soon.

But if you want to give it a test on your own, Men’s Fitness offers a routine that you can test out.

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team to Catch WAVE

Snowboard teams will be using WAVE (Whole-body Advanced Vibration Exercise) technology. While it has the promise of something you’d expect to hear in a late-nite infomercial “by working out on a WAVE platform only 15 minutes a day, three times per week, users will see benefits including strength gains, increased circulation, flexibility,” etc., we say if it is good enough for those hoping for gold in Vancouver it must be good for everyone else!

More importantly, unlike those fly-by-night gimmicks, this technology is actually being used by wellness centers, universities and even in rehabilitation centers as well as fitness studios and spas. Whatever works to win gold and warm up for the big day.