I don't know about you, but for me, losing that gut has always been one of my New Year's resolutions. I don't mind being called fat, it's just that after Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year, and especially CES (tons of junk food), now when I sit down, the thing is kind of in the way.
(Credit:
Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)
Generally it's pretty simple to stay in good shape: eat well, sleep enough, work out regularly, and reduce indulgences. However, easier said than done; you need some sort of enforcement or reminder mechanism.
This is why, this year, I am happy to find out about the Health Cubby app for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. It's a rather simple program that helps keep track of your lifestyle and exercise.
For those who like competition, the software even allows for the capability to connect to up to seven friends to compare your progress or keep tabs on one another.
The app's other features include:
- Set weekly goals for weight, cardio, strength training, vice, and measurements
- Set long-term goals for weight and measurements
- Track the healthy levels of meals by star rating
- Online Sync/Backup
- Chart weight for individuals or group
- Send and receive messages from friends
- Weight in pounds or kilograms
- Measurements in inches or centimeters
- Excel compatible e-mail reports (CSV attachment)
- Ability to store and retrieve data on next launch when the app is interrupted by a phone call
I tried out Health Cubby on my iPhone 3G and it's rather simple and fun to use. Unfortunately, it's not free but costs $5 at the Apple's AppStore. But hey, maybe you should pay that to feel like you really need to use it and start the New Year fresh.
The weight maintenance sociable robot does not like big butts, and it cannot lie.
(Credit: MIT Media Lab)"Open the donut box and pass me a glazed, Hal."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."
Keeping your diet in check and working out is a great way to lose weight, but robotic assistants are always a huge help.
The weight maintenance sociable robot project at the always fascinating MIT Media Lab has one goal: to help you shed pounds. The talking, face-tracking, eye-contact-making weight-loss coach is designed for in-home use.
The MIT Media Lab site has a video of the robot in action.
Daily and long-term exercise patterns and eating habits are entered into the prototype robot via a touch-screen interface, and the robot calculates the best way to meet your weight goals from there.
The key to the robot's own trim shape and healthy diet is simple: it doesn't have a mouth.
(Credit:
JustDDR.com)
Okay, I might like Dance Dance Revolution, but I'm not this hardcore about it by any means. Nevertheless, apparently some people are. JustDDR.com is selling a souped-up DDR deck called the "Metal Pad DDR Platinum Pro." The foot pads on this luxe dance machine are made of stainless steel, so that you can bring your home arcade a major notch above the norm. The pricing information is in Japanese, so I'm not positive how much it costs, but I'm sure it ain't cheap.
Now that's heavy metal.
(Via Red Ferret)
(Credit:
alchemi.blogspot.com)
In case you don't know yet, Wii workouts are the hottest fitness strategy since...Dance Dance Revolution. And, naturally, there are a whole host of entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on the possibility that Wii "athletes" might be willing to shell out some extra cash for Wii-centric fitness equipment.
One blogger even dreamed up a prototype for Wii Weights, a Wii-branded version of those strap-on wrist weights that you occasionally see people using at the gym. The thinking behind 'em is that it'll make your Wii Tennis workout a little more strenuous, and maybe help you lose those ten pounds slightly faster.
But um, why do the weights need to be Wii-white and branded with a logo? Can't you just head to your local sporting goods store and pick up some regular ones? I suppose there will always be some Nintendo-fitness fanatics who need to have everything match the console. But...psst...white shows sweat stains.
(Via Notcot.org.)
(Credit:
WiiNintendo.net)
The champagne hangover's worn off, and CES and Macworld are quickly becoming memories; it's time to get serious about that list of New Year's resolutions. And though No. 1 (get more exercise) and No. 12 (master a new video game) seem to be mutually exclusive, one blogger has shown that you can game your way to better health, or at the very least, a smaller pants size. After six weeks of playing Wii Sports for 30 minutes a day--and making no other change to his diet or everyday activities--the Philadelphia-based blogger reported that he'd lost nine pounds and 3.5 inches around his waist. His secret? He "used full body motion and swung [his] arms to mimic the real thing." Not quite the same as enjoying your favorite game from the comfort of your couch, but still an appealing fitness alternative for the gym-phobic.
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