New Android Watch with GPS - Garmin Alternative

There's no doubt the iPhone has become a popular mini computer that can double as a fitness monitor. With its included GPS and Wifi abilities it has allowed many people to use it for tracking their runs, bike rides and other outdoor activities without the need for buy a purpose built GPS watch like the ones Garmin supply. The problem however is that the iphone itself is rather large and needs to be strapped to the upper arm using any number of cheap arm bands. Until the 4S, it was also limited by no Bluetooth support, meaning a real lack of compatible heart rate monitors.

I noticed recently a new Android driven wrist watch has appeared that has GPS, Wifi and Bluetooth support. Being Android you could install popular apps such as Runkeeper to track your running, cycling etc. It basically looks like an iphone in its arm band but a bit smaller made to fit the wrist as opposed to the upper arm. A downside is that it can't be taken out of the armband since its a watch after all.

Its basically a non brand made in China and not available on Amazon yet, but it is the first of these I've come across. They are around US$280 so the price is up there, but if you're interested in a smaller tracking device for your fitness activities do an ebay search for Android GPS watch and see how it goes. It also comes with a GSM SIM slot for mobile use and 2.2 megapixel camera so if those were stripped out it could bring the cost down to be a fitness specific watch to take on Garmin. I bet someone will do it soon though.

Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS Review

I purchased the Garmin Forerunner 110 after getting sick of running with the heavier iphone strapped to my arm. It's a much smaller GPS tracker and looks and feels like a normal watch. I noticed its as quick as my old iphone to lock onto the GPS satellite. The display is clear even in direct sunlight and it says its waterproof.

I found it simple to use because it doesn't have an overly complicated menu and features I didn't need like virtual training partners.

The price of the Forerunner varies but is generally getting cheaper over time. You can buy the Forerunner 110 here from Amazon.

Garmin Forerunner 405 Water Resistant Running GPS With Heart Rate Monitor

The Garmin Forerunner 405 Water Resistant Running GPS With Heart Rate Monitor by Garmin is now available. This all-in-one training watch ticks all the boxes with GPS tracking, heart rate monitor and a water proof design. The display is 124 X 95 Pixels. It accurately tracks distance pace and calories, and displays it all on the easy to read screen. Ant+ Compatible

Available here on Amazon

Adidas Launches Adipure Trainer - Barefoot Shoe

Adidas has launched a new barefoot shoe called Adipure. The Adipure trainer is designed to feel like you are running in bare feet, but provides the benefits of protecting the skin and providing grip. The Adipure Trainer is a unique piece of equipment for elite level athletes that we're bringing to our core consumer," said Patrik Nilsson, president of Adidas North America.

The theory behind the use of barefoot shoes is that the body is already optimally designed to move. Science backing up this theory suggests that traditional shoes inhibit that, which can sometimes cause the kinds of injuries that plague many runners. Fans of barefoot shoes say they allow them to better use the body's natural motions and strengths.

The barefoot culture caught on widely in 2009 after publication of Christopher McDougall's book "Born to Run," which explored the history and benefits of barefoot running. The movement got further attention last year when Harvard biologist and runner Daniel Lieberman published a paper in the journal Nature that concluded that running barefoot seems to be better for the feet, producing far less impact stress compared to those in traditional running shoes.

The practice of running in barefoot shoes has been a somewhat controversial topic, though. The odd appearance of the shoes sometimes causes heads to turn in parks. Some races across the country will not allow people to run in them. And some barefoot shoe wearers themselves have reported injuries after using them.

Shoemakers and health professionals say many of the injuries are a result of people using the shoes too quickly. They suggest people trying to make the switch from traditional shoes to barefoot ones do so gradually __ increasing distance over time __ to let the body adjust to how the body was naturally meant to move.

"A lot of engineering went into making your foot a high performance machine," said Mark Verstegen, founder of Athletes' Performance, a training and performance organization for elite athletes that works with Adidas. "Using your foot's natural power and movement will help you strengthen muscles you never knew you had in your feet, lower legs and throughout your core."

Waterproof Heart Rate Monitors

A company called Finis has just released the AquaPulse™ heart rate monitor. Nearly all heart rate monitors are waterproof in that they can withstand sweat and rain. However not many are designed for swimmers. The aquapulse works by attaching the soft rubber clip to your earlobe, then you place the rest of it inside your goggle strap on the temple bone. As you swim along your current heart rate is verbally announced through bone conduction as you swim. The sound travels via vibration from the temple bone to the inner ear.

The device could also be used for running and the main benefit would be that there is no chest strap required. However, the Aquapulse will not record the workout. Maybe thats on the drawing board for the next model. 

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New COPD Treatment - Arcapta Neohaler

The US FDA has approved Arcapta Neohaler as a long term, once-daily treatment for (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. Arcapta Neohaler, marketed by Novartis is a is a new molecular entity in the beta₂-adrenergic agonist class that helps muscles around the airways of the lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms of COPD, such as wheezing and breathlessness. Arcapta Neohaler is not intended to treat asthma or sudden, severe symptoms of COPD.

"The approval of new long-term drugs for COPD that relieve breathing difficulty by opening airways provides another treatment option for the millions of people,” said Curtis Rosebraugh, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Six confirmatory clinical trials were conducted for safety and efficacy which involved 5,474 patients ages 40 and older with a clinical diagnosis of COPD. Those treated had a smoking history of at least one pack a day for 10 years and exhibited moderate-to-severe decreases in lung function. The most common side effects reported by those using Arcapta Neohaler include runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache and nausea.

View all our directory entries for lung capacity here: biotech-directory/fitness/lung-capacity/

Source: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm261649.htm

Polar Upgrades Online Coaching Site

Polars personal training website called polarpersonaltrainer.com has had a big makeover. New features let you do things like zoom into the training overview to see every heart rate details. You can tailor training programs for your specific need to get even better coaching, and see weekly and monthly summaries on how you’re getting on. You can customize progress reports, just for your purposes, to allow in-depth analyses of your improvement. After each session you’ll see a clear illustration of your cumulative training load so that you know when you are recovered enough for your next session.

If you wish to track your route on the new map view at polarpersonaltrainer.com, you can do it with the new RCX5 and G5 GPS sensor. Seeing your performance on the map will help you get a better understanding of every exercise you do. Especially when you can review your training data at any point of your route to know exactly how hard you were pushing yourself at that time. With Polar, you can re-live your sessions in detail.

Source: polarpersonaltrainer.com

iPhone Heart Rate Monitors

A popular fitness accessory for the iPhone is a heart rate monitor. Traditionally they have a chest strap and a matching receiver that interprets and shows the output display. Since so many people are already carrying an iPhone during exercise, using the iPhone itself as the recieving device cuts down on both size and cost. To use your iPhone as a heart rate monitor you need to purchase an adapter, a chest strap and maybe an App (if it's not free). There are two ways the iPhone can connect to the chest strap. Either by a wireless transceiver that plugs into the iPhone or soon by Bluetooth.

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Polar FT7 Review

I received the Polar FT7 heart rate monitoring watch as a birthday present and the thing I like most is that its water proof and I never have to take it off. Then when going for a run just put on the chest strap. For some reason I feel more motivated to run when its simple to get ready. When originally setting up the watch you put in your age and weight so it knows what your target training range is. During exercise it measures your heart rate in beats per minute, then indicates whether you are exceeding or falling below your target zone. I've never heard it beep for going too slow but I have heard it go off when my heart rate got too high usually around 165 it will start complaining. This feature can be turned off if it gets too annoying.

Another feature is the EnergyPointer, which tells you whether the main effect of your training is to improve your fitness or burn fat. I was surprised to learn that because my heart rate has been high, I've mostly been working on fitness as opposed to loosing weight. I've now learnt that walking keeps my heart rate lower which is better for weight loss. Who would have thought?

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The Mouth Guard that Increases Flexibility

The Pure Power Mouth Guard (PPM) has been around for a year or two, but it seems now professional athletes are taking it up. The Saints football team in America have been using it with surprising success. The PPM is said to enhance  balance, range of motion and flexibility. It sounds hard to believe, however its custom designed and fitted to create better joint alignment from the jaw to the spine. With a cost of around $2000 you can see why its for the pro's.

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