As you look back on 2008, what will you remember the most? The presidential election? The economy tanking? Or maybe it's the shoe-throwing incident that will stand out in your mind. There were plenty positives and negatives this year and, in the world of fitness, I think there were far more positives to look back on. I've put together a brief list of my picks for best exercise gear, workouts, trends and innovations from 2008.
With a number of new websites offering downloadable workouts, MP3 players can do more than just blast your favorite tunes.
Cardio Coach,
NextFitness,
Pump One and
iTrain are just a few websites offering downloadable workouts. If you have an iTouch or an iPhone, you can also download fitness applications, giving you access to fitness no matter where you are.
Streaming Video Workouts
Another great technological advancement in 2008 was the ability to watch streaming exercise videos right on your computer screen.
demandFitness,
SlimTree,
Be You.tv and
Target Workouts are just a few websites offering a variety of workouts, subscription plans and options for working out at home, at work or on the road. You can also find some
videos on how to perform several exercises right here on About.com. Now there really are no excuses for missing your workout.
Active Video Games
Wii Fit is just one of the active video games that came out this year, offering parents new hope for getting their kids off the couch and involved in something fun. In fact, the whole family can play tennis, go bowling, do some yoga or get in some cardio while having fun together (right in the living room).
Dance Dance Revolution was another popular video game, even with people convinced they have two left week. We'll no doubt see even more active video games in the coming year.
Exercise TV
Sitting around and watching TV is one of our favorite activities, and it's just one thing that contributes to our increasing waistlines. The good news in 2008 was the ability to use our TVs to exercise. Some cable companies (like Comcast) offer
Exercise TV, a cable channel that broadcasts a variety of workouts all day long. The On Demand section lets you scroll through the different workouts available so you can exercise any time you want. Having workouts at your fingertips any time of day is a great way to fit exercise into any busy schedule.
I love to listen to music while I exercise, which is why finding a great pair of wireless headphones was such a big deal for me and many other exercisers this year. iMuffs are comfortable, easy to use and offer great sound quality without the cords. The only drawback is that they only work with certain types of iPods. Wireless technology only gets better, so we'll see even more great wireless headphones in the coming year.
Yoga Paws, hand and foot pads that allow you to do yoga without a mat, come out on top as one of my favorite innovations in 2008. My husband thinks these are weird, but if you like to do yoga when traveling or, like me, in your home office without a yoga mat, these are a must. Yoga has gotten more popular over the last few years, and these make it easier to do it anywhere you like.
I usually don’t rave about heart rate monitors, but I’ve really enjoyed using the F6 this year. I love the daily and weekly calorie counter, and I also like being able to see my time spent in different target heart rate zones. I've recommended this over and over to friends, family and clients, making the F6 a standout of 2008.
This was another great product I had a lot of fun with this year, and my clients really enjoyed having something new to try. This weight inside this innovative ball moves and shifts, giving exercisers a whole new way to work the core. What would make this one even better would be new workout DVDs to keep the momentum going.
Cathe Friedrich's Drill Max
I'm a fan of exercise videos, so it's hard to pick a favorite of 2008. Cathe Friedrich's Drill Max is definitely at the top. It's the video I did the most often and the workout that burned the most calories for me. This intense workout has everything -- cardio, endurance and strength training -- and the unique exercises really stood out from the usual workout videos. This was a favorite for me in 2008 and highly recommended for advanced exercisers.
When I first saw the Perfect Pushup handles, I thought they were a little silly. After all, you don't need any equipment to do a pushup, right? After I tried them, I decided to add them to my list of favorite new gear for one reason - they help reduce wrist pain, which is a common problem when you do pushups on the floor. In fact, I've recommended these to a number of clients. They still hate pushups, but now find them less painful than they were before.
