Running Technology
by Elizabeth Johnstone

Between these disgusting summer temperatures (sitting outside by the pool pales in comparison to the a/c unit, especially when it's raining) and Jessica Alba whining all over the place about how she wishes people would get over her "hotness," it's almost enough to make a girl want to hibernate during bathing suit season instead of hitting the treadmill. The traditional desire to shed those extra ten pounds seems futile. Can we really feel sorry for someone voted "Sexiest Woman in the World" this year by FHM magazine? Hardly. But wait! The Fantastic Four star says she hates to exercise, too, but she'll do it if she has her mp3 player handy.

Exercise and uber-expensive technology. Who would have ever thought those two would go hand in hand? Apple Inc., for one. While many people have discovered that there are more economical alternatives for everyday listening, iPod mania at the gym is still out of control. The device keeps getting smaller and smaller and even more practical for anyone who likes a full order of tunes with their side of sweat. You can't go to the gym or take a run around the block without seeing someone with their colorful little player strapped to an armband or those trademark white earbuds. It doesn't stop with just music, either.

The Division of Sport and Recreation at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand have come up with something pretty awesome: the iPod Gym. The creators figured that, with the advent of the video technology, there would be no better way to try out some new exercises at the gym than by following along on a video iPod. They claim that it’s the "perfect way to expand your exercise routine" and with 80 different exercises available ranging from free weights to the Swiss ball, it seems like a pretty sweet deal. Best of all, iPod Gym is free.

Keep in mind, though, a video iPod is not. An 80 GB model is $349.00. And what about Nike + iTunes? If you really want to "tune your run" as the fancy websites declare, you need to do the following: grab an iPod nano, a pair of Nike+ shoes, and a Nike + iPod Sport Kit. Now let's ring it all up: a 2GB iPod nano is $149.00, a Nike+ iPod Sport Kit is $29.00. A pair of Nike Men's Air Zoom Vomero +2 (with Nike+ capability) is $119.00. Let's add a nano-sized Nike+ Sport armband: $29.95. The grand total is $326.95 - note that all prices came from Apple and from Foot Locker for this particular thought experiment. And for what? Your iPod, previously a fun running companion, suddenly becomes your stalker, your controller - and an expensive one at that. Is that what we really want from technology?

For me, the best part about the constantly revolving nature of technological expansion is that we have a choice. For example, am I satisfied with my bulky iPod mini when the nano is so much skinnier? Yup - until that sucker breaks, I'm not interested in a new one. But when it does finally bite the dust, I have the option of newer and better technology. It's a nice thought.

For people looking to lose weight in the summer months (or anytime) exercise is the way to do it. Technology makes tedious time spent on an elliptical machine or running about the block more pleasant, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It also makes keeping track of your progress simple with free websites like http://www.thedailyplate.com. The Daily Plate allows users to create a profile for themselves, search for the foods they eat and the activities they do and the website tracks it all like a food diary, calorie calculator, and fitness log all rolled into one. It's a website that can just as easily be used to maintain healthy eating habits as a way to shed those few extra pounds. For example, you can type in your height and weight and how much you exercise per week, and it'll tell you how many calories you need to consume each day to maintain that current weight at that activity level. To lose your desired number of pounds, just type it in and it suggests a specific reduced calorie intake with a specific amount of increased exercise based on your stats. Fantastic! The website comes with the option for a paid membership, but the free one is more than enough to really get you thinking twice about eating that third Oreo.

People have also started fitness blogging. Seems sort of ironic, since the point of exercise is to get someone up and away from the computer (TV, game system, fill in the blank here). But the website Back In Skinny Jeans (http://www.backinskinnyjeans.com) has the right idea by saying that "it's one thing to read about health. It's another thing to live a healthy lifestyle." It's about the struggle to get back into that pair of jeans we all have in our closet, perhaps the size six amongst a sea of eights and tens. But it doesn't stop with the achievement: what happens after the weight loss? The creator of Back in Skinny Jeans, Stephanie Quilao, realizes on her website "that your life is not better because you are in the skinny jeans. You look prettier, yes, but life is not necessarily better." This is a great place for anyone looking for a change, encouragement, interesting ideas, or just a plain good read.

So let's be realistic. Trolling around all day on your computer, drooling over Nike Shox isn't going to help you get in shape. In fact, video and computer games are constantly vilified for being a cause of rising obesity in kids and teens. But technology and the continuing development of fitness resources on the Web all play a pretty major role in how people start being healthy, and this article barely scratches the surface. Of course, even in that instance, there are extremes. If anyone actually buys an iPod skirt (with a special electronics pocket for your iPod, MP3, or cellphone, it also has a buttonhole just under the waistband so you can thread your headphone cord up and out), you might want to seriously consider a visit to your local psychologist.

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