Is your gadget addiction getting in the way of your exercise routine? If so, Smart Money magazine put together a slideshow of seven gadgets designed to get you in shape. Although the latest gadget likely won't make you the next Iron Man or Woman, it may help to motivate you to get started with a new workout plan. Their list includes Wii Fit, and one of our favourites, the Nike + iPod Sport kit. Do you have a special gadget that helps you get off the couch and into the gym or onto the track? If so, post it in the comments.

My runner pal Lane Becker explains why on earth anyone would want to run a marathon in this fantastic and informative slideshow about the history (and first-person reality) of running a 26.2 mile race. (Boss/kid alert: There's a little bit of swearing in this talk.) Congrats on finishing the race today, Lane!

Read More »

DIY web site Instructables demonstrates how to replace a dead battery in a Nike+ iPod receiver in just a few minutes for under $5. When I highlighted the best tech tools to get in shape, I sang the praises of the Nike+ iPod sport kit. But Apple says a whole new sensor is required when the battery dies in the $30 device, so the 10 minutes and $4 battery required for this little DIY seems worth the effort if and when your battery takes the long sleep.

Read More »

If there's one thing geeks and non-geeks alike all share, it's an aversion to exercise. No matter how much you'd like to slim your waistline and lose the belly, it's difficult to find a workout routine that not only works, but one that fits your needs and is easy to stick to. Over the years we've covered several fitness plans along with free and cheap technology to help you get in shape and stick to a training plan, and I've used many of these tools to help run two marathons. Read on for a look at the most simple yet effective plans we've covered—along with the best tech tools to help you get and stay in shape. Photo by luiginter.

Read More »

Runner Leo Babauta offers his advice on how to go from sedentary to running in five steps. The key is slowly graduating from walking to running in intervals, similar to the Couch-to-5k running program.

Read More »

Web site One Hundred Push Ups details a training plan for going from 0 to 100 push-ups in a matter of six weeks. We've discussed why the push-up belongs in your fitness routine, but we didn't offer you a good road to push-up bliss. One Hundred Push Ups takes a graduated approach to 100, with a very detailed plan and several levels depending on your fitness going into it. It's sort of like the previously mentioned Couch to 5k for your muscles.

Instructable user Sailor Bob wanted to track his pedals-per-minute to set goals and get more out of his routine, so he turned a cheap $US10 bicycle computer (found at Wal-Mart, in his case) into a reliable cadence meter using some dollar-store magnets and a few cables. The hardest part seems to be setting up the LCD computer, but it's nothing you couldn't tackle with a little free time and effort. Hit the link for detailed installation and setup instructions.

Read More »

Yahoo Health says the secret to optimizing a short workout and burning more calories in less time lies in interval training.

Study subjects who spent just 20 minutes mixing sprints with jogging lost three times the fat off their legs and butt in 15 weeks, compared to those who jogged steadily for 40 minutes, research from the University of New South Wales in Sydney finds. Intervals may spark fat-mobilizing hormones, and they amp your cardio capacity so your future runs will actually feel easier.

Read More »

You don't need to plunk down $150 for a Wii Fit to track your progress toward a healthier body—even if that downhill skiing game looks mighty fun. If you're trying to curb unnecessary calories and stick to an exercise plan, there are tons of free applications that want to see you succeed. Whether you're facing a fast-food menu or polishing off a light entree, you can log, track, and make healthy decisions from your desktop, or just as easily from a phone. Take a look at a few suggestions for accomplishing your fitness goals, after the jump. Photo by angela7dreams.

Read More »

The New York Times' Well section has reassuring news for anyone hitting the gym and not seeing results. Many researchers agree that muscle size and definition are not as important to your long-term health as those muscles' endurance and strength, which prevent atrophy and weakness in old age:

To maintain endurance, you should engage in activities that pump blood to the muscles, like walking. For strength, you need to lift weights, concentrating on what Professor Fitts calls the antigravity muscles, those of the back and legs. And, he adds, you should also maintain arm strength.

Read More »