Fitness Journal: Purdue University Offers Easy Tips to Help Reach Fitness Goals

Hey, where did everybody go? (Photo courtesy of Vagabond Shutterbug)

It’s February, we’re well into the year, and there’s no turning back. Which begs the question, how are your fitness goals coming along? Have you been going to the gym regularly since you signed up during the New Year?  Have you stayed true to your resolutions? If you said no, you’re not alone. Most of us make unrealistic goals for ourselves, according to Purdue University.

It’s not rocket science: people give up on fitness because they have no goals to begin with, they make unrealistic goals, or they lack the knowledge, motivation, discipline or tools to achieve their goals without injury, according to Lane Yahiro, clinical professor and director of the A.H. Ismail Center for Health, Exercise and Nutrition at Purdue University.

Yahiro offers some very easy tips to stay focus if people wish to get fit. One, be accountable, and exercise with someone with a similar schedule to help you with accountability. “I am a firm believer in having accountability,” Yahiro said. “Having an accountability partner does wonders, especially if the partner is just as excited about exercising.”

Second, establish exercise goals that can be reachable. Yahiro says working with a personal trainer can help you create realistic goals. “Personal trainers should set up daily training session objectives that will help the client work toward reaching both short- and long-term goals. An accountability partner can also work with you in this way.” (In our experience, many personal trainers are expensive and lack the proper training. Before you work with a trainer, make sure they are certified and understand your needs.)

Third, keep track of your progress.

These aren’t bulletproof tips that will guarantee a fit body, but exercise requires motivation, so don’t set the bar too high for yourself.

Weekend Reading List (2.11.12): Snow Art, Race Up a Skyscraper, Bike Industry Looks Strong

Snow Circles

Sonja Hinrichsen, an artist from San Francisco, recently turned some high-alpine tundra in Steamboat into her personal canvas. Video and more stories after the jump

Made in America: Vew-Do Balance Boards

Vew-Do Balance Boards - The Zone Balance Pro

One of the best ways to avoid injury, sports related or not, is to have strong core muscles; and my wife reminds of this when I am doing an activity that might injury my back. “Hold your stomach muscles,” is the statement that she often repeats to me and she is right. Over the past year, strengthening those core muscles has become part of my workout routine and it has really helped. I have had less cycling related back injuries and I find that my back feels less ‘tweaked’ after a good day in the saddle.

There are many was to strengthen your core, from basic home exercises to specific Core Conditioning classes offered by some gyms. Along with these exercises or classes another device can be used will help you strengthen you core, improve your balance and is fun –  a balance board. Vew-Do of Vermont has been designing and manufacturing balance boards for exercise, rehabilitation and just plan fun since 1990. Videos after the jump

Trimble Yuma Tablet Computer Now Available in Ubuntu Linux Flavor

Tablet computers must be big business or forecasted to be, since every manufacturer seems to have one or a few in their lineup (although it’s hard to tell if any of them are lucrative, since Apple’s iPad still dominates this market). Enter the latest contender, the Trimble Yuma from SDG Systems. Unlike other tablets that run on familiar operating systems like iOS, Android, or Windows, the Trimble Yuma uses Ubuntu Linux.

The Trimble Yuma, to clarify, is not completely new. A version that uses Windows 7 already exists. What’s new is the use of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Netbook Edition Linux, which SDG added based on customer demand. It’s also designed for military and industrial applications. Starting at $3,695, this is not for the general consumer. SDG will also customize the unit with a different version of Linux for a fee.

In addition to a 7-inch display that works in sunlight, a magnesium alloy shell, a solid-state drive, and military-grade resistance to various environment conditions, the Trimble Yuma’s is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, like the ones found in many netbook computers. Also built-in are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, two cameras, GPS, and two card slots.

Like we said, this isn’t for the most of us, unless your activities frequently take you to places like the Gobi Desert.

SDG Systems Official Website
[PCWorld: Ready for Another Linux Tablet? Meet the Rugged Trimble Yuma]

Shape Shack Venture for Snowboards

The Euphoria (top) and the Zelix (bottom) - the first two boards from the Shape Shack

If the shape of a snowboard wasn’t important to performance boards would probably look like flat – well boards! But shape is important, Colorado-based Venture Snowboards isn’t just going back to the drawing board, it is introducing its new experimental division, the Shape Shack, with the goal of coming up with odd yet funcation board designs that other companies haven’t thought of yet. Continue reading Shape Shack Venture for Snowboards

U.S. Air Force Picks Getac B300 Rugged Computer

Ever wonder who actually buys those bulky, rugged, military-grade computers? Why, the military, of course! Getac, a maker of rugged computers, and NCS Technologies, which makes “mission-specific” computers and some Getac products under license, announced that the U.S. Air Force has selected the Getac B300 fully rugged notebook computer as part of its Quantum Enterprise Buy (QEB) program, in the Fully Rugged Laptop category.

The QEB selection process evaluates each vendor’s products for quality, performance, price, and compatibility with the USAF’s strict security requirements. Getac said, “The B300 rugged notebook computer was selected for the program for meeting those stringent requirements while delivering performance, reliability, and consistent ability to withstand the harshest work and environmental conditions.”

So, what’s in a B300? You’ll find a 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5 processor, the industry’s brightest 1400 NITs QuadraClear display, 100mw high-power Wi-Fi, a 120GB SSD drive with 128-bit encryption, and a dual-battery configuration for up to 30 hours. The B300, which will be built by NCS, will be available through the QEB program in June 2012.

What does this all mean to you? Probably nothing, but if you are shopping for a rugged portable computer that can handle the elements and meets requirements to satisfy the Air Force, we point you toward the B300.

Getac Official Website
[Marketwire Press Release: United States Air Force Selects Getac B300 for QEB Fully Rugged Laptop Category]

Olympus Delivers More Rugged Cameras

Last month we reported that Olympus had shown off its Tough TG-320 rugged camera. Designed for the budget conscience consumer this one still was loaded with some great features. But apparently Olympus wasn’t done, and the company has also introduced two other lines – the Tough TG-820 and Tough TG-620, which will hit stores in Japan beginning later this month.

Both series will feature iHS technology with 12megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, and advanced features including Magic Filters and Beauty mode/Beauty make. There is even a “Pet Mode” that automatically detects the face of a cat or dog and focuses before shooting the photo. Both the TG-820 and TG-620 lines can capture 3D photos, and feature 5x optical zoom, along with Full HD movie (1,920×1,080) video recording with encoding in MOV/H.264 format. More photos and press release after the jump

Drink Up: Simple Hydration Bottle

There’s a slew of new water bottles hitting the market. Features and design make each bottle stand out. But which bottle wins? It’s personal preference. The Simple Hydration Water Bottle solves a problem experienced by many runners: how to hold the bottle while running. The solution is a 13-ounce BPA-free bottle that’s got an interesting shape.

Continue reading Drink Up: Simple Hydration Bottle

Bracketron Smuggler Lets You Covertly Stash a Six-Pack in Golf Bag

Secret compartments are cool. Whether it’s the room behind a pivoting bookshelf, the flask inside a cane (a sword is even better), or an underground vault, the ability to stash away goods from the unsuspecting summons up fantasies of living as a mad scientist, James Bond or Batman.

For golfers who have something to hide, Bracketron recently unveiled the Smuggler, an insulated soft-sided “cooler” with a reusable cold gel pack that holds up to six cans of your favorite liquid. It’s designed to “discreetly” slide into a golf bag, which, we gather, means sneaking beverages of the adult variety onto the green. The Smuggler will sell for $24.95.

The Smuggler is part of Bracketron’s lineup of mobile accessories for golfers, including mounts for securing a GPS or smart phone device to a golf cart or bag.

Bracketron Official Website

Nike Gives Prosthetic Leg Some Sole

This week we heard about a feel good story, where Nike is helping competitive amputee athletes by adapting its shoe technology for use with prosthetic legs. The Nike Sole has been designed to work with the Össur’s Flex-Run prosthetic running blade, which is used by competitive amputee athlete including Sarah Reinertsen (above).

The sole features a stacked design and comes with a stretch rubber leash over a rubber waffle outsole. Reportedly this material is made up of “regrind” soles that come from recycled shoes, while the polyurethane foam midsole is topped by a thermal plastic that was created from recycled air bags. So not only does this technology offer a benefit for amputee athletes but it is good for the planet in the process. And time will tell how this might help disabled athletes perform. Continue reading Nike Gives Prosthetic Leg Some Sole

NuVinci Harmony Shifts Gears

Just as an automatic transmission shifts at what the engine considers the optimum moment, the NuVinci Harmony intelligent drivetrain for bicycles could change truly be a shift in cycling. This first continuously variable shifting system, which was created by Fallbrook Technologies, has recently won the Bicycle Innovation Award at FietsVAK 2012 show in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The NuVinci Harmony incorporates technology included in NuVinci CVP bicycle drivetrains. The initial commercially available NuVinci drivetrain model won the Bicycle Innovation Award at FietsVAK 2007. Continue reading NuVinci Harmony Shifts Gears

Fitness Goes to Orbit With Breathe

FitOrbit, the online solution that provides 24/7 accessibility to certified personal trainers, is telling members to “Breathe,” by launching its new logging and tracking experience. “Breathe” offers users the ability to select meals and workouts online, and with a click of the mouse it lets the trainer know what you’ve accomplished for the day. This online tracking also allows for a “quick add” with an intelligent algorithm that identifies what users are looking for, and even remembers preferences and favorites.

FitOrbit’s “Breathe” allows users to talk to their trainer anytime and anyway, without even having log onto the Website, as it now offers an email app that can be used with mobile phones. Sounds like a breath of fresh air! Press release after the jump

Canon (Power)Shots Again

What camera company isn’t releasing a rugged digital camera? This week Canon announced its upcoming PowerShot D20, which is much more than just an update of the D10 – in fact in a way it is more because it is less. While the D10 was a large and bulky point and shoot, the D20 is a sleeker model, but still features a robust and sporty design.

The PowerShot D20 is made for those who are a little tough on their devices, and as such it is waterproof to 33-fteet and shock-proof to about five-feet, while also being freezeproof to about -10C. It is also sealed up tight to protect the internals electronics from sand and dust. Continue reading Canon (Power)Shots Again