Call us skeptics, but we couldn’t help but think this was some sort of joke when we got an e-mail from the folks at TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. Essentially it’s an elevated table you place over your treadmill, and you can place your laptop and other boring work stuff on top of it. The idea is that you’re exercising and staying active while you work. (And no, you can’t sit down while you’re on this, you lazy bum.) According to TrekDesk they found that athletes who spend their days chained to an office desk often complain of stiff hip flexors, knees, ankles and backs, and that the TrekDesk is one way to prevent that. Despite the treadmill in its name, you’ll have to supply your own treadmill, though, and it’s not cheap at $479 at the company’s Amazon.com store.
As much as we would like to dismiss this as hokey, we personally suffer from body aches and problems from sitting at a desk for too long. Sitting uncomfortably in a chair that’s not ergonomic to our desk, we know that the pain in our wrists is not natural. And from the positive reviews and TV news spots about the TrekDesk, we are willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. But we have enough trouble as its multitasking Facebook with our Excel spreadsheets, so having to concentrate not falling off is one more thing we don’t need.
Meanwhile, the creative side of our brains is wondering, what if we can just get a high desk from IKEA that we can place over our treadmill? Wouldn’t that allow us to create our own TrekDesk without having to pay for the high price?
At the gym, on nature trails, and on the beach, we constantly see people spending more time with their iPhones than on the activities they were supposed to be there for. If you’re someone who can’t part with an iPad wherever you are, may we suggest that you at least cover it in something that’s durable to prevent it from damage? (Because ma’am, you’re sitting awfully close to that body of ocean water that’s splashing all around you.)
The folks at Trident Case recently announced its new Kraken series of cases that are like protective body suits for your gizmos. Designed for the iPad and iPhone 4 (coming soon for HTC’s Droid Incredible and Samsung’s Galaxy S and Vibrant devices), the Kraken cases offer shock protection with its impact resistant polycarbonate exterior and silicone sleeve and extra padded corners; an ergonomic design allowing you a better a grip when holding it; a screen protector that’s anti-glare, anti-dust, anti-scratch, and UV protectant (plus a dust filter covers up the speakers, too, without blocking out sound); and nine colors.
The Kraken iPad case sells for $45 while the iPhone version sells for $35. Cases for iPads and iPhones aren’t cheap, but at least the Kraken cases offer extra protection at competitive prices. Unfortunately you won’t get to show off your iPad or iPhone’s sleek design, cause these things will bulk up your device.
Kraken Case for iPad
And yes, in case you were wondering, the Kraken is named after the mythological Norse sea monster because they “are built to be a powerful force that provides protection against elements and catastrophes that could potentially destroy mobile devices,” according to Trident Case. Wait, wasn’t the Kraken the one doing the destroying? And why in “Clash of the Titans” did the Greek gods summon something from a different mythology?
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
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
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?
Besides debunking some myths (recirculated cabin air is not the cause of why people get sick when flying), Heller offers some common sense advice on what you can do. Essentially, the main cause of illness when flying are from the people around you, from fellow passengers to the flight crew. Heller also says eating is one of the ways of getting sick, because you’re bringing your hand to your mouth; your hand may have been contaminated.
We met up recently with the eco-folks of Klean Kanteen, who showed us their new Wide Insulated bottles. You have probably seen Klean Kanteen products at your local yoga center or Whole Foods. These particular beverage holders have double-walled vacuum insulation and are made with a solid 18/8 brushed stainless steel designed for handling food. They’re also BPA-free, but what isn’t these days since the “scare” of a couple years ago. They come in three sizes—12, 16, and 20 ounces—and all cost less than $30 ($22.95, $25.95, and $27.95, respectively). They can also accommodate the optional cafe cap ($5.95) you can screw on, great for coffee drinkers.
But the big seller to these new bottles is the said double-walled vacuum insulation, which Klean Kanteen says will keep a hot beverage hot for up to six hours and iced drinks for up to 24 hours. Now, when you throw those kinds of claims in my face, I become skeptical (I’m generally skeptical anyway, but that’s another story). After all, we’ve grown up with those Thermoses that promised to keep our soups hot by lunchtime, only to find it lukewarm. After Klean Kanteen provided us with a 16-ounce model to try out, we put it through a quick real-world test.
We brewed some instant coffee (times are tough, leave us alone), poured it into the bottle, and sealed it tightly with the included loop cap. Just to see how tight the seal is, we threw it in a backpack that contains some clothes and we tossed around for the next few hours. Luckily the seal was tight and we didn’t find any coffee-soiled shirts. We opened it once after three hours to check on it (still hot). After a total of 6.5 hours later, we opened the bottle again and took a sip. Sure enough, the bottle lived up to its claim of six hours. But the coffee wasn’t just hot, it was lip-burning hot, as if we had just poured the coffee into it a minute ago. We were pretty surprised that it was so hot. Luckily we had the cafe cap on, which made it a bit easier to drink than pressing your lips directly on the stainless steel (ouch).
We didn’t test it with cold beverages for a complete 24 hours, just 12. We poured in some diet cola with ice, sealed it, and left it in a warm room with a steam heater nearby. After 12 hours, we removed the cap and found the cola very cold, how soda should be drank. The ice, however, had melted, so the cola tasted somewhat diluted but nothing we couldn’t drink.
The one issue we noticed is that, despite having cleaned it with soap and water after we dumped out the coffee, we could still smell a bit of the coffee in the bottle when we were sipping the cola from it. Klean Kanteen says the bottle does not retain or impart flavors, which we didn’t find when we tasted the cola, but we wonder if that also meant smelling it from the bottle. Also, due to a narrow internal chamber it’s a bit difficult to wash using just a regular household sponge, yet the bottle was too big to fit in our Jeep’s cup holder (although Klean Kanteen says it’ll fit most). Plus, it feels a bit heavy when you compare it to non-insulated bottles.
Design-wise, some may find it a bit boring to look at, but we think the simple and clean design is appealing. It lacks the design and color choices of a Sigg bottle, but here we think the function definitely outweighs the option of graphics or pretty colors (just slap a sticker on it to make it yours). Overall we are really impressed, and we think it’s worth the money if you like having the option of either hot or cold.
Update: We soaked the bottle overnight in regular dish-washing detergent, and we found no trace of any smell from the liquid it held prior. So make sure you give it a thorough cleaning unless you enjoy smelling coffee with your cola.
Ever wanted to capture the run down the slopes, laps in the pool, or deep sea adventures? Goggle-mounted cameras from Liquid Image let you do just that, in video or still images. The company just released a series of eye wear with built-in cameras to record the action.
Most exciting might be the snow camera, part of the Summit Series. It discreetly includes a camera on an attractive pair of ski goggles. The camera is a hands-free 5.0-megapixel model that shoots D1 video at a rate of 30 frames per second, with audio. Liquid Audio also released a pair of swim goggles as part of its Freestyle Series with a 1.3-megapixel camera and the ability to shoot VGA video with 640×480 resolution (the 330 model is shown above). The Liquid Image Wide Angle SCUBA series HD322 adds new features to an existing HD320 model. The HD322 records HD video at 720p quality, and has a 5.0-megapixel camera for still images.
Oregon Scientific introduced a twist on the standard heart rate monitor at the Consumer Electronics Show. In addition to the standard beats per minute and calories burned, the T1 Zone Trainer with Hydration Index tells you when it’s time for a drink. The old advice, “If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated,” was never helpful. With the T1, you’ll get a warning before your tongue dries out. The monitor has three exercise modes: jogging, running, and cycling. In addition to heart rate and hydration it measures calories and percent fat burned. We like the tap screen feature to control the T1, rather than fiddling with several buttons to start the chronometer or scroll through modes and readings.
From today’s New York Times, Gina Kolata stumbled upon the discovery that athletes may spend less effort on a workout than they would at night. She asks, “Are athletes more efficient in the morning?”
“A small group of researchers has studied the question of exercise performance and time of day, even doing studies of heart rates. And not only are performances better in the late afternoon and early evening, but, contrary to what exercise physiologists would predict, heart rates are also higher for the same effort.”
Call us skeptics, but we couldn’t help but think this was some sort of joke when we got an e-mail from the folks at TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. Essentially it’s an elevated table you place over your treadmill, and you can place your laptop and other boring work stuff on top of it. The idea is that you’re exercising and staying active while you work. (And no, you can’t sit down while you’re on this, you lazy bum.) According to TrekDesk they found that athletes who spend their days chained to an office desk often complain of stiff hip flexors, knees, ankles and backs, and that the TrekDesk is one way to prevent that. Despite the treadmill in its name, you’ll have to supply your own treadmill, though, and it’s not cheap at $479 at the company’s Amazon.com store.
