The Basis band is able to continuously track your heart rate from its wristwatch. In the past watch-only heart rate monitors required you to touch two buttons simultaneously to get a pulse. To get a continuous reading, other heart rate monitors require you wear a chest strap that sends data via a wireless signal to a wristwatch or receiver. An optical engine tracks heart rate by directing light into the skin to observe blood flow.

Day and night, sensors in the watch track activity beyond heart rate. Two heat sensors track skin and ambient temperature changes. A 3-axis accelerometer records movement and activity. Galvanic skin response sensors track the intensity of activity by measuring sweat levels.

In addition to tracking heart rate, the Basis B1 band measures activity such as walking and running. Basis uses sensors to monitor your heart rate, calculate calories burned, determine your physical activity and even gauge your sleep patterns. Though you have to wear the watch all night in order to track your sleep. All the data are compiled and uploaded to a website, where you can review your progress. The Basis awards points for activity, so you have a clear goal to reach each week.

The Basis B1 Band is almost ready for release. Basis will sell the device for $199 and is taking preorders on its website.

Basis Science Official Website

Among Withings devices, you can set up your scale and Withings blood pressure monitor to upload to the cloud. A volume of additional data from other sources then joins these data. These can be fitness tracking apps, sites where you log your fitness and data from other devices such as a compatible heart rate monitor or cycling computer. A few that have joined in the cloud are Zero Sleep Manager and Runkeeper.

Withings is offering a free API for apps and fitness devices to get set up on the cloud. The platform the operates as a single source for all those devices. Data can be sent to the cloud, but also from the cloud to inform your iPhone or other device with updates.

Withings Company Website

Sears has announced it is introducing its “Fitness Flagship” store-within-a-store at more than 35 sites across the country. These 6,000 sq. feet centers provide new fitness products and floor models. Is this the fitter side of Sears?

SEARS REINFORCES STATUS AS NATION’S NUMBER ONE FITNESS RETAILER WITH
IN-STORE, ONLINE, INTEGRATED INNOVATIONS

– New in-store design, online community engage casual, professional fitness enthusiasts –

 Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Jan. 4, 2012) — The start of the new year marks the start for many to rededicate themselves to a personal fitness routine. Sears, already the nation’s largest fitness retailer, has reinforced its industry leadership role with a series of innovations that integrate in-store and online fitness retailing to help consumers achieve their fitness goals.

“Whether just starting a new workout routine or a longtime fitness enthusiast, customers want a complete solution,” said Hugo Malan, SVP and president, Fitness, Sporting Goods and Toys at Sears Holdings. “Sears sells more fitness equipment than anyone else and we believe in continually improving our offering, so we have built an online fitness community and developed new destinations that attract customers both in-store and online.”

Sears recently completed construction on its latest “Fitness Flagship” store-within-a-store. Continuing a roll out that began last year at select Sears locations and now in more than 35 sites, these 6,000 sq. ft. Fitness Flagship specialty stores feature polished hardwood floors, tall mirrors, expanded equipment layouts and resemble a modern, high-end gym. The Fitness Flagships are staffed by expert salespeople who have been trained on fitness products and trends, and feature dozens of floor models to try from leading brands like NordicTrack, LifeFitness, Sole, Smooth, ProForm, AFG, Bladez, Schwinn and others.

From In-Store to Online

Sears’ online fitness website, FitStudio, has become the most comprehensive online fitness community for both fitness enthusiasts and professionals. FitStudio was created with the help of an advisory board of fitness and nutrition professionals and features free access to a range of training resources, including: blog posts about fitness trends, a content-rich video library demonstrating individual exercises, complete workouts and multi-day exercise programs. The site connects members to a community of thousands of motivated experts and allows them to purchase gear and equipment from top brands. Members can also access FitStudio’s database of more than 130,000 personal trainers and identify a local trainer and fitness events by a zip code search.

“People need to adjust their thinking and realize a fitness plan is not about weight loss, but about empowering yourself to meet realistic goals,” said Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness, and a FitStudio advisory board member and blogger. “Your chances for success rise when you’re not going it alone, which is exactly what FitStudio gives you – a comprehensive resource to live a fit life.”

Customers looking to take their fitness routine to the next level can sign up in-store at Sears or online at FitStudio for the new FitStudo e-trainer service. FitStudio e-trainers are certified personal trainers who interact with individual subscribers daily with a step-by-step plan – including nutrition/meal plans, workout regimens and interactive tracking tools – to motivate their client and adapt the plan to reach their fitness goals. Membership starts at $9.99 per week for a six-month (26 weeks) plan and is also available in three-month and month-to-month options. As an additional incentive, now through Jan. 31, 2012, Sears is offering one free week of FitStudio e-trainer with the purchase of any piece of fitness equipment of $500 or more.

The Stages of Change

From Experience Life Magazine

Break a habit. Achieve a goal. Transform your life.

At one time or another, most of us have embarked on an effort to change some part of ourselves or our lives. We’ve decided to stop smoking, to start saving, to drop a few pounds, or to get a new job. As a rule, these sorts of changes don’t occur overnight. They take time and effort.And they tend to evolve through a multistage process — one that many behavior-change experts know as the Transtheoretical Model of Change.

Experience Life: Stages of Change

Contrex – What is it? Do You Care?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEH4Yum4nN4

Large Wheeled Bicycle

Now that is one large set of wheels. 29″ (aka 29er) wheels on mountain bikes are all the rage now and roll over obstacles much better than traditional (26″) mountain bike wheels. If we assume that guy running along side the bicycle is 5′ 10″ tall, the wheel size here is about his height or 70 inches. Wonder what size obstacles that beast could roll over.

 Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEGclnIQnaE

The Bicycle Gallery of Jacksonville, NC has posted the hilarious spoof video above. Enjoy. Check out the Andy Schleck look a like on a BMX bike. He first appears at the 21 second mark.

We’re sad to report that fitness guru Jack LaLanne died Sunday afternoon at his home in Morro Bay, California. He was reported to be 96 years old.

We’d like to believe he lived to the ripe old age because of the decades he spent talking about the healthful benefits of exercise and fitness. LaLanne opened his first health spa in California in 1936, long before any fitness craze hit America. LaLanne was also one of the innovators of fitness technology, as he invented the first leg-extension machine.

Our condolences go out to his family and friends. The fitness world has lost a true icon.

According to Dr. Barry A. Franklin, who was quoted by My Fox Houston, games not a substitute for actual exercise, but do encourage people to get healthier. Franklin’s view:

“The fact of the matter is that 70 percent of Americans don’t exercise. Some of the reasons they don’t exercise s that it’s not enjoyable, it’s no fun, and it’s not readily accessible.

“Often times the boxing, the golfing, and other activities have an energy expenditure that is equivalent to slow, moderate walking. That’s a lot better than sitting on the couch.”

With the recent release of the PlayStation Move this past September, as well as this week’s release of the Xbox 360 Kinect we expect a lot of gaming to occur, but at least this could be a gateway to healthier gamers.

It features eight different settings to allow users to monitor how fast they’re strolling, as well as maximum and average speeds and of course total distance. This data can be translated into calories burned as well. Just remember there is a baby in the stroller so no need to make this into a hardcore workout. Additionally, the Strollometer offers a clock – which might not sound like much, but this way users don’t have to reach into a bag for a phone or watch. And it even includes a temperature gage, so those doing the stroller can know whether a baby might need to be covered up.

The company also offers tips on getting started, provides buggy fitness tips and even offers a guide to getting up to 1.5 run as well as 5k training. In other words, it isn’t just about the stroll.

Strollometer Official Website

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.

WaterRower is hoping to change that with the Indo-Row Machine, an indoor rowing device that is lightweight, portable and can be stored vertically. This rower also uses a special WaterFlyWheel that was designed to emulate the dynamics of how a boat moves across water. This helps make it easer for users to row with an even technique that is nature and fluid with each stroke.

The Indo-Row will be available soon for individuals to purchase, and the price will be around $1,200. While not exactly cheap it is more affordable than moving to Boston to row on the Charles River. Plus, you won’t get wet unless you count the good sweat you’re likely to get from a half hour of rowing. Best of all, while in real rowing you can’t see where you’re going, with this you can sit back, watch TV and row, row yourself to better health.

Indo-Row Official Website

Says president and co-found Mary Obana about KokoFitClub: “Traditional gyms don’t work for the vast majority of the population. They don’t have the time, and they don’t know what to do.” Sound familiar? Well, the concept with this gym is that it offers what the company calls the Koko Smartraining System technology, which analyzes each member’s unique fitness level, and then designs a customized training plan base don individual goals and ability. The system provides users with a guide to take part in high-effective workouts based on proprietary strength and cardio equipment. The idea is that users only do what they need to, and thus work out more efficiently.

Of course the key is still actually getting to the gym and working out, but those who hate the time that is spent at the gym this one might be worth going Koko over.

Koko FitClub Official Site

And price isn’t an excuse either, as the workout pack is available now for just $19.99. As with the video workout version, the Wii edition offers users the choice of cardio boxing, mixed games and step aerobics at varying levels. There are nine workouts that are also compatible with the Wii Balance Board too – but this accessory isn’t required however. The game even provides health and wellness tips from fitness spokeswoman Jessica Smith.

10 Minutes Solution for Wii is rated E for Everyone, and is recommend (by us anyway) for those gamers who can’t find the time to squeeze in a workout. Now that there is this solution, you have no excuses.

Activision official site

Anchor Bay Entertainment official site

Do you Wannabe in better shape?

When we first read that a former Spice Girl wanted to do a fitness game we assumed it would be Sporty Spice. Then we read it was Mel B and our thoughts were confirmed, but actually Melanie Chisholm, a.k.a. Mel C, is the former Sporty Spice. Melanie Brown, or Mel B, a.k.a. Scary Spice is the one who is actually going to be working on a title for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation 3 Move.

“I have always been passionate about videogames and then when I grew up my preferences moved towards fitness and wellbeing.” she said in a press release. “Today I can finally mix together my two big passions, it’s been like a dream.”

The title from Black Bean Games will feature Brown as a celebrity trainer in Get Fit. It will build on the publisher’s previous Fitness First titles and will feature six types of aerobic disciplines and more than 100 exercises. The Brown fitness game will arrive for the holidays

Black Bean Games

EA Sports Active 2 is heading to the Xbox 360 and will be compatible with Kinect

The Wii and exercise games have made great companions the past few years. However with Microsoft Kinect on its way, the video game workout may get a whole lot more active. Electronic Arts’ follow up to EA Sports Active is expecting to add more activity to both its Wii and Microsoft Xbox Kinect versions. More activity also means ore sensors and gear however. A demo at EA’s press conference showed wireless activity for EA Sports Active 2, heart rate monitors strapped to the upper arm, and weights and bands added for strength training.

Expect more variation in workouts. The demo included an intense cycling sequence, weight lifting and boxing. The Kinect version measures movement of the entire body versus the Wii version, which measures arms and legs through holding the controller and leg straps.

An online log on EA.com is an added component. Workout data is stored so you can evaluate your progress and fitness goals.  You can also share your results and compare progress of others.

EA Sports Fitness 2

Adults want to have fun too

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