Top 5 Fitness 'Gadgets' for under the tree this year
Technology and Fitness Expert Steve Groves shares which Fitness Gadgets will help you get fit in 2012

December 15th, 2011
London, ON: One of the most popular New Year's Resolutions Canadians make is to lose weight and live a healthier, more active life. Steve Groves, fitness buff and Chief Information Officer of Canada's Largest Fitness Company, GoodLife Fitness, provides insight and expertise on the Top 5 Fitness Gadgets that will 'fire up' your New Year's resolution by making your activities measurable, interactive and fun.

Whether you want to lose weight with the help of the Withings WiFi Body Scale, monitor your steps, calories burned and sleeping patterns using the Fitbit Ultra, or train for a marathon using the Adidas miCoach PACER Bundle, these gadgets can improve your health and make it fun in the process.

"The popular sentiment used to be that technology was making us lazy, but with these gadgets it's the exact opposite," says Steve Groves, who spoke about technology at fitness conferences in Canada, the United States and Europe this year. "These gadgets have a variety of fitness resources to help monitor your progress. And one of the greatest benefits is that the gadgets give you instant feedback which makes going to the gym more interactive, fun and easy."

Earlier this year Steve used an array of gadgets to accomplish his goal of a double century bike ride ̶ back-to-back 160km rides on successive days.

"Whether your resolution is to run a marathon, lose 5 pounds, maintain your mobility or lower your blood pressure, all of these gadgets will give you that extra edge whatever your goal may be," says Steve.

Steve recognized the Fibit Ultra as one of the best values on the market this year. Its modest price tag of $99.95 (USD) and invaluable health information make it a great gift idea.

Steve also noted the Withings WiFi Body Scale as the gadget with the widest appeal. The simple to use features and popularity of weight loss for a New Year's Resolutions makes it an attractive buy for any family member.

Steve Groves selects his Top 5 Fitness Gadgets

Adidas miCoach PACER Bundle ($169.99 (can) www.shopadidas.ca)

The PACER Bundle, which includes a Stride Sensor, Heart Rate Monitor, and Pacer, is truly the total package. It measures your heart rate, speed, distance traveled and pace during your run/walk while also providing coaching through your head phones (you can even change your coach's voice to pro athletes like tennis star Andy Murray and NBA MVP Derrick Rose). Once your run is complete you can track your progress on the miCoach website or smartphone app while also receiving training recommendations based on the long-term fitness goals you set for yourself.

Withings Blood Pressure Monitor ($139.99 shop.withings.com)

The best feature of the Withings Blood Pressure Monitor is the simplicity; within 30 seconds of getting it out of the box I had the cuff on my arm and plugged it into my smartphone. Within another minute the gadget loads the app and displays your systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as your resting heart rate. All of the results are stored on your smartphone and are viewable on free web service my.withings.com. A convenient feature is the ability to quickly email your results to family members, friends or healthcare professionals.

Fitbit Ultra ($99.95 US www.fitbit.com)

This gadget can best be described as the pedometer of the future – it digitally tracks your steps taken, distance walked or run, flights of stairs climbed and calories burned. Also included is a comfortable wrist strap to wear at night, which records the length and quality of your sleep. This information is then recorded on the Fitbit website (www.fitbit.com). Considering its size (it looks like a money clip), the incredible amount of health insight it provides, like daily calories burned and the effects of everyday activities on your sleeping patterns, and its modest price ($99.95), this gadget is the best bang for your buck.

Xbox Kinect Fitness Games ($99.99 for sensor, $299 with Xbox 360 Console- available at electronics stores)

Nintendo got the active video game movement started with the Wii console, but Microsoft has taken it to a whole new level with the full body sensing capabilities of their Xbox 360 Kinect system. With family-friendly games like Kinect Sports: Season Two or the party ready Dance Central 2 and Just Dance 3, the Kinect makes getting off the couch and into the action fun. The real power of the Kinect sensor is demonstrated with programs like EA Sports Active 2 and UFC Trainer where you follow an onscreen personal trainer and see if you have the correct form in real time – a great option on those days when you can’t make it to the gym.

Withings WiFi Body Scale ($159.99 shop.withings.com)

Another great gadget from the innovators at Withings is a scale that measures weight, body fat percentages, muscle mass, and Body Mass Index. Similarly to the Blood Pressure Monitor, all information is wirelessly sent to your free account on my.withings.com. The scale is also fantastic for a family as it recognizes each family member and records their measurements in a separate profile. With its weekly updates based on the goals you set, this product is great for anyone making New Year’s weight loss resolutions. This Withings Youtube video provides a great overview of the product.

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Media Contact
Adam Roberts
Public Relations Coordinator
GoodLife Fitness
519-661-0190 ext. 424
aroberts@goodlifefitness.com